English
ergate
Ergate comes from Ancient Greek ἐργάτης ‘workman’, from ἔργον ‘work’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*werǵ-‘to make’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*wérǵom‘work’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*wérgon‘work’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔργον‘work’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐργάτηςergátēs‘workman’root of ἔργον
- Englishearliest quotation 1910ergate
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*werǵ-‘to make’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*wérǵom‘work’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*wérgon‘work’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔργον‘work’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐργάτηςergátēs‘workman’root of ἔργον
- Englishearliest quotation 1910ergate
Earliest quotation: 1910, William Morton Wheeler, Ants: Their Structure: “The worker (ergates) is characterized by the complete absence…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’
working, wright, organic, boulevard, organ, wrought, orgasm, liturgy, metallurgy, bulwark, irk, irksome, wark, 20 more
through Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom ‘work’
through Ancient Greek ἔργον ‘work’
Today it means
noun A worker ant.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- / ergate