English

lifework

From life + work.

A compound of life + work

Proto-Germanic *lībą ‘life’

Proto-West Germanic *līb ‘body’

Old English līf

Middle English lyf

English life

Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’

…

Proto-Germanic *werką

Proto-West Germanic *werk

Old English weorc ‘labor’

Middle English work

English work

Today it means

noun The main occupation or vocation of a person's life.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / lifework