h₂werg-
“to do, to work, to make”Work, do, make
A PIE verbal root meaning "to do, to work," continued in Greek érgon (ἔργον, "work, deed"), whence energy, organ, surgery, liturgy, and metallurgy; and in Germanic *werką ("work"), whence English work, wrought, and wright.
Discussion
The root *h₂werg- ("to do, to work") is reconstructed from Greek érgon (ἔργον, "work, deed, function"), Avestan varəz- ("to work, to act"), Old English weorc ("work"), and Armenian gorc ("work"). Pokorny (IEW 1168–1169) and Rix (LIV² s.v. *werǵ-) provide the reconstruction.
Greek érgon generated an enormous compound vocabulary in English. Enérgeia (ἐνέργεια, "activity, operation") gave energy. Órganon (ὄργανον, "instrument, tool") gave organ and organic. Kheirourgía (χειρουργία, "hand-work") gave surgery. Leitourgía (λειτουργία, "public service") gave liturgy. Metallourgía combined métallon with érgon. The combining form ergo- remains productive in ergonomics and erg.
Germanic *werką gave Old English weorc and modern English work. The past participle wrought survives in wrought iron, overwrought, and distraught. The agent suffix -wright ("worker, maker") appears in playwright, wheelwright, and shipwright.
Notes
gsc-gap: source of "work", "wrought", "wright", "energy", "organ", "surgery", "liturgy"
Laryngeal Analysis
Initial *h₂- lost in most branches.
Ablaut
Full grade *h₂werg-, zero grade *h₂wr̥g-.