Middle English word work comes from Proto-Indo-European *were-, and later Proto-Germanic *warkiz (Pain.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *were- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *wreǵ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *warkiz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Pain. |
| *wérǵom | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | Work. |
| wærc | Old English (ang) | Pain; ache. Suffering; anguish; grief. |
| *werką | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Work. |
| weorc | Old English (ang) | Work. |
| warch | Middle English (enm) |