worchen

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Old English wyrċan, from a combination of Proto-West Germanic *wurkijan (from Proto-Germanic *wurkijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ǵyéti) and Proto-West Germanic *wirkijan (from Proto-Germanic *wirkijaną); roughly equivalent to werk (“action, labour”) +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Forms with /ɛ/ reflect both the East Anglian, East Saxon, and Kentish development of Old English /y/ and influence from the noun werk (also evident in forms with /k/, though these could be generalised from the Old English singular present indicative forms wyrcst, wyrcþ).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈwurt͡ʃən/ (mainly Southern, South Midland), /ˈwirt͡ʃən/ (mainly South Midland)
  • IPA(key): /ˈwɛrt͡ʃən/, /ˈwɛrkən/ (especially East Anglia, East Saxon, Kent)
  • IPA(key): /wirk/ (mainly Northern, Northeast Midland)

Verb

worchen (third-person singular simple present worcheth, present participle worchynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative wroghte, past participle wroght)

  1. To perform or accomplish: to carry out:
    1. To cause or bring about; to put into effect.
    2. To practice or maintain; to perform habitually.
  2. To create or generate; to bring into existence:
    1. To produce; to create a product, preparation, or work.
    2. To build or erect; to create a structure.
    3. (passive voice) To adorn, depict, or inscribe.
    4. (rare) To institute or form (an institution)
  3. To act or behave (in a certain way):
    1. To affect or influence; to act upon.
    2. To operate; to be efficacious or effective.
  4. To toil or labour (usually physically):
    1. To work in a craft, discipline, or occupation.
    2. To work on (a structure or excavation)
    3. To work with; to manipulate or process.
    4. (uncommon) To have sex; to copulate.
    5. (uncommon) To calculate; to perform arithmetic.
  5. To convert or change; to make into another thing.
  6. (rare) To harass or afflict; to cause trouble to.
  7. (rare) To utilise or employ; to put into use.

Conjugation

Conjugation of worchen (weak irregular)
infinitive (to) worchen, worche
present tense past tense
1st-person singular worche wroghte
2nd-person singular worchest wroghtest
3rd-person singular worcheth wroghte
subjunctive singular worche
imperative singular —
plural1 worchen, worche wroghten, wroghte
imperative plural worcheth, worche —
participles worchynge, worchende wroght, ywroght

1 Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

  • English: work
    • Sranan Tongo: wroko
      • Aukan: woóko
      • Saramaccan: woóko
      • → Kari'na: woroko
      • → Trió: oroko, joroko
    • → Cantonese: work (adjective)
  • Middle Scots: wirk

References

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