ἐργάζομαι

See also: εργάζομαι

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• ϝεργάδδομαι (wergáddomai) — Laconian, Cretan

Etymology

From ἔργον (érgon, “work”) +‎ -άζω (-ázō).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /er.ɡáz.do.mai̯/ → /erˈɣa.zo.mɛ/ → /erˈɣa.zo.me/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /er.ɡáz.do.mai̯/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /erˈɡa.zo.mɛ/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /erˈɣa.zo.mɛ/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /erˈɣa.zo.me/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /erˈɣa.zo.me/

Verb

ἐργάζομαι • (ergázomai)

1. to work, labour
   • 480 BCE – 411 BCE, Antiphon of Rhamnus, First Tetralogy 2.12
   • 391 BCE, Aristophanes, Assemblywomen 148
   • 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Aristotle, History of Animals 616b35
   • 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Demosthenes, Against Phaenippus 31
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 2.124
   • 750 BCE – 650 BCE, Hesiod, Works and Days 151
   • 750 BCE – 650 BCE, Hesiod, Works and Days 299
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 18.469
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 14.272
   • 497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Fragments 563
   • 371 BCE – 287 BCE, Theophrastus, On the Causes of Plants 5.12.7
   • 371 BCE – 287 BCE, Theophrastus, On the Causes of Plants 6.18.11
   • 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 2.72
2. to work at, make
   • 175 CE – 235 CE, Claudius Aelianus, Various History 3.1
   • 423 BCE, Aristophanes, The Clouds 880
   • 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Aristotle, History of Animals 627a6
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 20.72
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 22.422
   • 522 BCE – 443 BCE, Pindar, Isthmian Ode 2.46
   • 522 BCE – 443 BCE, Pindar, Nemean Ode 5.1
   • 386 BCE – 367 BCE, Plato, Cratylus 431c
   • 386 BCE – 367 BCE, Plato, Meno 91d
   • 125 CE – 200 CE, Lucian, Dialogues of the Sea-Gods 11.2
   • 50 CE – 150 CE, Soranus, The Life of Hippocrates 11
   • 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 2.76
   • 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.6.6
3. to do, perform
   • 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 1121b33
   • 750 BCE – 650 BCE, Hesiod, Works and Days 382
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 24.733
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 17.321
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 24.210
   • 53 CE – 55 CE, Paul the Apostle, First Epistle to the Corinthians 16:10
   • 380 BCE, Plato, Gorgias 522d
   • 385 BCE – 380 BCE, Plato, Symposium 213d
   • 442 BCE, Sophocles, Antigone 267
   • 429 BCE, Sophocles, Oedipus the King 347
   • 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Oeconomicus 7.20
4. (with double accusative) to do something to someone; esp. do someone ill
   • 422 BCE, Aristophanes, The Wasps 787
   • 422 BCE, Aristophanes, The Wasps 1350
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 2.26
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 8.79
   • 400 BCE – 387 BCE, Plato, Crito 53a
   • 428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Phaedrus 244b
   • 497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Electra 1206
   • 429 BCE, Sophocles, Oedipus the King 1374
   • 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 786
   • 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 928
   • 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 1172
   • 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 1.137
   • 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 3.52
5. to work a material
   • 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Demosthenes, Against Pantaenetus 28
   • 60 BCE – 7 BCE, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities 3.46
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 1.17
   • 750 BCE – 650 BCE, Hesiod, Theogony 440
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 3.435
   • 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Cyropaedia 1.6.11
   • 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Hellenica 3.3.7
6. to earn by working
   • 440 BCE – 390 BCE, Andocides, On the Mysteries 144
   • 424 BCE, Aristophanes, The Knights 840
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 1.24
   • 750 BCE – 650 BCE, Hesiod, Works and Days 43
   • 390 BCE, Plato, Hippias Major 282d
   • 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.8.2
7. to work at, practice
   • 436 BCE – 338 BCE, Isocrates, Against the Sophists 6
   • New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 10:35
   • 70 CE – 110 CE, The Gospel of Matthew 7:23
   • 428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Phaedo 60e
   • 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Oeconomicus 1.7
8. to cause
   • 60 BCE – 7 BCE, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities 8.87
   • 390 BCE – 322 BCE, Hyperides, In Defence of Euxenippus 35

Inflection

   Present: ἐργᾰ́ζομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐργᾰ́ζομαι	ἐργᾰ́ζῃ, ἐργᾰ́ζει	ἐργᾰ́ζεται	ἐργᾰ́ζεσθον	ἐργᾰ́ζεσθον	ἐργᾰζόμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́ζεσθε	ἐργᾰ́ζονται
	subjunctive	ἐργᾰ́ζωμαι	ἐργᾰ́ζῃ	ἐργᾰ́ζηται	ἐργᾰ́ζησθον	ἐργᾰ́ζησθον	ἐργᾰζώμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́ζησθε	ἐργᾰ́ζωνται
	optative	ἐργᾰζοίμην	ἐργᾰ́ζοιο	ἐργᾰ́ζοιτο	ἐργᾰ́ζοισθον	ἐργᾰζοίσθην	ἐργᾰζοίμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́ζοισθε	ἐργᾰ́ζοιντο
	imperative		ἐργᾰ́ζου	ἐργᾰζέσθω	ἐργᾰ́ζεσθον	ἐργᾰζέσθων		ἐργᾰ́ζεσθε	ἐργᾰζέσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						ἐργᾰ́ζεσθαι
participle	m					ἐργᾰζόμενος
	f					ἐργᾰζομένη
	n					ἐργᾰζόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ἠργᾰζόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἠργᾰζόμην	ἠργᾰ́ζου	ἠργᾰ́ζετο	ἠργᾰ́ζεσθον	ἠργᾰζέσθην	ἠργᾰζόμεθᾰ	ἠργᾰ́ζεσθε	ἠργᾰ́ζοντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: εἰργᾰζόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	εἰργᾰζόμην	εἰργᾰ́ζου	εἰργᾰ́ζετο	εἰργᾰ́ζεσθον	εἰργᾰζέσθην	εἰργᾰζόμεθᾰ	εἰργᾰ́ζεσθε	εἰργᾰ́ζοντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: ἐργᾰ́σομαι, ἐργᾰσθήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐργᾰ́σομαι	ἐργᾰ́σῃ, ἐργᾰ́σει	ἐργᾰ́σεται	ἐργᾰ́σεσθον	ἐργᾰ́σεσθον	ἐργᾰσόμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́σεσθε	ἐργᾰ́σονται
	optative	ἐργᾰσοίμην	ἐργᾰ́σοιο	ἐργᾰ́σοιτο	ἐργᾰ́σοισθον	ἐργᾰσοίσθην	ἐργᾰσοίμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́σοισθε	ἐργᾰ́σοιντο
passive	indicative	ἐργᾰσθήσομαι	ἐργᾰσθήσῃ	ἐργᾰσθήσεται	ἐργᾰσθήσεσθον	ἐργᾰσθήσεσθον	ἐργᾰσθησόμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰσθήσεσθε	ἐργᾰσθήσονται
	optative	ἐργᾰσθησοίμην	ἐργᾰσθήσοιο	ἐργᾰσθήσοιτο	ἐργᾰσθήσοισθον	ἐργᾰσθησοίσθην	ἐργᾰσθησοίμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰσθήσοισθε	ἐργᾰσθήσοιντο
					middle		passive
infinitive					ἐργᾰ́σεσθαι		ἐργᾰσθήσεσθαι
participle	m				ἐργᾰσόμενος		ἐργᾰσθησόμενος
	f				ἐργᾰσομένη		ἐργᾰσθησομένη
	n				ἐργᾰσόμενον		ἐργᾰσθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: ἐργᾰξέομαι (Doric, contracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐργᾰξέομαι	ἐργᾰξῇ	ἐργᾰξεῖται	ἐργᾰξεῖσθον	ἐργᾰξεῖσθον	ἐργᾰξεόμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰξεῖσθε	ἐργᾰξέονται
	optative	ἐργᾰξεοίμᾱν	ἐργᾰξέοιο	ἐργᾰξέοιτο	ἐργᾰξέοισθον	ἐργᾰξεοίσθᾱν	ἐργᾰξεοίμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰξέοισθε	ἐργᾰξέοιντο
					middle
infinitive					ἐργᾰξεῖσθαι
participle	m				ἐργᾰξεόμενος
	f				ἐργᾰξεομένᾱ
	n				ἐργᾰξεόμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: εἰργᾰσᾰ́μην, εἰργᾰ́σθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	εἰργᾰσᾰ́μην	εἰργᾰ́σω	εἰργᾰ́σᾰτο	εἰργᾰ́σᾰσθον	εἰργᾰσᾰ́σθην	εἰργᾰσᾰ́μεθᾰ	εἰργᾰ́σᾰσθε	εἰργᾰ́σᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἐργᾰ́σωμαι	ἐργᾰ́σῃ	ἐργᾰ́σηται	ἐργᾰ́σησθον	ἐργᾰ́σησθον	ἐργᾰσώμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́σησθε	ἐργᾰ́σωνται
	optative	ἐργᾰσαίμην	ἐργᾰ́σαιο	ἐργᾰ́σαιτο	ἐργᾰ́σαισθον	ἐργᾰσαίσθην	ἐργᾰσαίμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́σαισθε	ἐργᾰ́σαιντο
	imperative		ἔργᾰσαι	ἐργᾰσᾰ́σθω	ἐργᾰ́σᾰσθον	ἐργᾰσᾰ́σθων		ἐργᾰ́σᾰσθε	ἐργᾰσᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	εἰργᾰ́σθην	εἰργᾰ́σθης	εἰργᾰ́σθη	εἰργᾰ́σθητον	εἰργᾰσθήτην	εἰργᾰ́σθημεν	εἰργᾰ́σθητε	εἰργᾰ́σθησᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐργᾰσθῶ	ἐργᾰσθῇς	ἐργᾰσθῇ	ἐργᾰσθῆτον	ἐργᾰσθῆτον	ἐργᾰσθῶμεν	ἐργᾰσθῆτε	ἐργᾰσθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐργᾰσθείην	ἐργᾰσθείης	ἐργᾰσθείη	ἐργᾰσθεῖτον, ἐργᾰσθείητον	ἐργᾰσθείτην, ἐργᾰσθειήτην	ἐργᾰσθεῖμεν, ἐργᾰσθείημεν	ἐργᾰσθεῖτε, ἐργᾰσθείητε	ἐργᾰσθεῖεν, ἐργᾰσθείησᾰν
	imperative		ἐργᾰ́σθητῐ	ἐργᾰσθήτω	ἐργᾰ́σθητον	ἐργᾰσθήτων		ἐργᾰ́σθητε	ἐργᾰσθέντων
					middle		passive
infinitive					ἐργᾰ́σᾰσθαι		ἐργᾰσθῆναι
participle	m				ἐργᾰσᾰ́μενος		ἐργᾰσθείς
	f				ἐργᾰσᾰμένη		ἐργᾰσθεῖσᾰ
	n				ἐργᾰσᾰ́μενον		ἐργᾰσθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἐργᾰσᾰ́μην, ἐργᾰ́σθην (Ionic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐργᾰσᾰ́μην	ἐργᾰ́σω	ἐργᾰ́σᾰτο	ἐργᾰ́σᾰσθον	ἐργᾰσᾰ́σθην	ἐργᾰσᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́σᾰσθε	ἐργᾰ́σᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἐργᾰ́σωμαι	ἐργᾰ́σηαι	ἐργᾰ́σηται	ἐργᾰ́σησθον	ἐργᾰ́σησθον	ἐργᾰσώμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́σησθε	ἐργᾰ́σωνται
	optative	ἐργᾰσαίμην	ἐργᾰ́σαιο	ἐργᾰ́σαιτο	ἐργᾰ́σαισθον	ἐργᾰσαίσθην	ἐργᾰσαίμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́σαισθε	ἐργᾰσαίᾰτο
	imperative		ἔργᾰσαι	ἐργᾰσᾰ́σθω	ἐργᾰ́σᾰσθον	ἐργᾰσᾰ́σθων		ἐργᾰ́σᾰσθε	ἐργᾰσᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἐργᾰ́σθην	ἐργᾰ́σθης	ἐργᾰ́σθη	ἐργᾰ́σθητον	ἐργᾰσθήτην	ἐργᾰ́σθημεν	ἐργᾰ́σθητε	ἐργᾰ́σθησᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐργᾰσθῶ	ἐργᾰσθῇς	ἐργᾰσθῇ	ἐργᾰσθῆτον	ἐργᾰσθῆτον	ἐργᾰσθῶμεν	ἐργᾰσθῆτε	ἐργᾰσθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐργᾰσθείην	ἐργᾰσθείης	ἐργᾰσθείη	ἐργᾰσθεῖτον, ἐργᾰσθείητον	ἐργᾰσθείτην, ἐργᾰσθειήτην	ἐργᾰσθεῖμεν, ἐργᾰσθείημεν	ἐργᾰσθεῖτε, ἐργᾰσθείητε	ἐργᾰ́σθειεν, ἐργᾰσθείησᾰν
	imperative		ἐργᾰ́σθητῐ	ἐργᾰσθήτω	ἐργᾰ́σθητον	ἐργᾰσθήτων		ἐργᾰ́σθητε	ἐργᾰσθέντων
					middle		passive
infinitive					ἐργᾰ́σᾰσθαι		ἐργᾰσθῆναι
participle	m				ἐργᾰσᾰ́μενος		ἐργᾰσθείς
	f				ἐργᾰσᾰμένη		ἐργᾰσθεῖσᾰ
	n				ἐργᾰσᾰ́μενον		ἐργᾰσθέν
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἠργᾰξᾰ́μᾱν (Doric)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἠργᾰξᾰ́μᾱν	ἠργᾰ́ξω	ἠργᾰ́ξᾰτο	ἠργᾰ́ξᾰσθον	ἠργᾰξᾰ́σθᾱν	ἠργᾰξᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἠργᾰ́ξᾰσθε	ἠργᾰ́ξᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἐργᾰ́ξωμαι	ἐργᾰ́ξηαι	ἐργᾰ́ξηται	ἐργᾰ́ξησθον	ἐργᾰ́ξησθον	ἐργᾰξώμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́ξησθε	ἐργᾰ́ξωνται
	optative	ἐργᾰξαίμᾱν	ἐργᾰ́ξαιο	ἐργᾰ́ξαιτο	ἐργᾰ́ξαισθον	ἐργᾰξαίσθᾱν	ἐργᾰξαίμεθᾰ	ἐργᾰ́ξαισθε	ἐργᾰ́ξαιντο
	imperative		ἔργᾰξαι	ἐργᾰξᾰ́σθω	ἐργᾰ́ξᾰσθον	ἐργᾰξᾰ́σθων		ἐργᾰ́ξᾰσθε	ἐργᾰξᾰ́σθων
					middle
infinitive					ἐργᾰ́ξᾰσθαι
participle	m				ἐργᾰξᾰ́μενος
	f				ἐργᾰξᾰμένᾱ
	n				ἐργᾰξᾰ́μενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Perfect: εἴργᾰσμαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	εἴργᾰσμαι	εἴργᾰσαι	εἴργᾰσται	εἴργᾰσθον	εἴργᾰσθον	εἰργᾰ́σμεθᾰ	εἴργᾰσθε	εἰργᾰ́σᾰται
	subjunctive	εἰργᾰσμένος ὦ	εἰργᾰσμένος ᾖς	εἰργᾰσμένος ᾖ	εἰργᾰσμένω ἦτον	εἰργᾰσμένω ἦτον	εἰργᾰσμένοι ὦμεν	εἰργᾰσμένοι ἦτε	εἰργᾰσμένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	εἰργᾰσμένος εἴην	εἰργᾰσμένος εἴης	εἰργᾰσμένος εἴη	εἰργᾰσμένω εἴητον/εἶτον	εἰργᾰσμένω εἰήτην/εἴτην	εἰργᾰσμένοι εἴημεν/εἶμεν	εἰργᾰσμένοι εἴητε/εἶτε	εἰργᾰσμένοι εἴησᾰν/εἶεν
	imperative		εἴργᾰσο	εἰργᾰ́σθω	εἴργᾰσθον	εἰργᾰ́σθων		εἴργᾰσθε	εἰργᾰ́σθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						εἰργᾰ́σθαι
participle	m					εἰργᾰσμένος
	f					εἰργᾰσμένη
	n					εἰργᾰσμένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

• ἀνεργάζομαι (anergázomai)
• ἀντεργάζομαι (antergázomai)
• ἀπεργάζομαι (apergázomai)
• διεργάζομαι (diergázomai)
• ἐνεργάζομαι (energázomai)
• ἐξεργάζομαι (exergázomai)
• ἐπεργάζομαι (epergázomai)
• κατεργάζομαι (katergázomai)
• περιεργάζομαι (periergázomai)
• προεργάζομαι (proergázomai)
• προσεργάζομαι (prosergázomai)
• συνεργάζομαι (sunergázomai)
• ὑπεργάζομαι (hupergázomai)

Related terms

• ἀνέργαστος (anérgastos)
• ἐργασία (ergasía)
• ἐργάσιμος (ergásimos)
• ἔργασις (érgasis)
• ἐργαστέον (ergastéon)
• ἐργαστήρ (ergastḗr)
• ἐργαστήριον (ergastḗrion)
• ἐργαστής (ergastḗs)
• ἐργαστικός (ergastikós)
• ἔργαστρα (érgastra)
• ἐργαστρίς (ergastrís)

Descendants

• Greek: εργάζομαι (ergázomai, “to work”)

References

• “ἐργάζομαι”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “ἐργάζομαι”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “ἐργάζομαι”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891) A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
• ἐργάζομαι in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
• ἐργάζομαι in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
• “ἐργάζομαι”, in Slater, William J. (1969) Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter
• G2038 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible