from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Work \Work\ (w[^u]rk), n. [OE. work, werk, weorc, AS. weorc,
worc; akin to OFries. werk, wirk, OS., D., & G. werk, OHG.
werc, werah, Icel. & Sw. verk, Dan. v[ae]rk, Goth.
gawa['u]rki, Gr. 'e`rgon, [digamma]e`rgon, work, "re`zein to
do, 'o`rganon an instrument, 'o`rgia secret rites, Zend verez
to work. [root]145. Cf. {Bulwark}, {Energy}, {Erg},
{Georgic}, {Liturgy}, {Metallurgy}, {Organ}, {Orgy},
{Surgeon}, {Wright}.]
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1. Exertion of strength or faculties; physical or
intellectual effort directed to an end; industrial
activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically,
physical labor.
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Man hath his daily work of body or mind
Appointed. --Milton.
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2. The matter on which one is at work; that upon which one
spends labor; material for working upon; subject of
exertion; the thing occupying one; business; duty; as, to
take up one's work; to drop one's work.
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Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand
That you yet know not of. --Shak.
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In every work that he began . . . he did it with all
his heart, and prospered. --2 Chron.
xxxi. 21.
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3. That which is produced as the result of labor; anything
accomplished by exertion or toil; product; performance;
fabric; manufacture; in a more general sense, act, deed,
service, effect, result, achievement, feat.
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To leave no rubs or blotches in the work. --Shak.
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The work some praise,
And some the architect. --Milton.
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Fancy . . .
Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams.
--Milton.
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The composition or dissolution of mixed bodies . . .
is the chief work of elements. --Sir K.
Digby.
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4. Specifically:
(a) That which is produced by mental labor; a composition;
a book; as, a work, or the works, of Addison.
(b) Flowers, figures, or the like, wrought with the
needle; embroidery.
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I am glad I have found this napkin; . . .
I'll have the work ta'en out,
And give 't Iago. --Shak.
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(c) pl. Structures in civil, military, or naval
engineering, as docks, bridges, embankments, trenches,
fortifications, and the like; also, the structures and
grounds of a manufacturing establishment; as, iron
works; locomotive works; gas works.
(d) pl. The moving parts of a mechanism; as, the works of
a watch.
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5. Manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful
work spoiled the effect. --Bp. Stillingfleet.
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6. (Mech.) The causing of motion against a resisting force.
The amount of work is proportioned to, and is measured by,
the product of the force into the amount of motion along
the direction of the force. See {Conservation of energy},
under {Conservation}, {Unit of work}, under {Unit}, also
{Foot pound}, {Horse power}, {Poundal}, and {Erg}.
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Energy is the capacity of doing work . . . Work is
the transference of energy from one system to
another. --Clerk
Maxwell.
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7. (Mining) Ore before it is dressed. --Raymond.
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8. pl. (Script.) Performance of moral duties; righteous
conduct.
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He shall reward every man according to his works.
--Matt. xvi.
27.
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Faith, if it hath not works, is dead. --James ii.
17.
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9. (Cricket) Break; twist. [Cant]
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10. (Mech.) The causing of motion against a resisting force,
measured by the product of the force into the component
of the motion resolved along the direction of the force.
Energy is the capacity of doing work. . . . Work is
the transference of energy from one system to
another. --Clerk
Maxwell.
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11. (Mining) Ore before it is dressed.
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{Muscular work} (Physiol.), the work done by a muscle through
the power of contraction.
{To go to work}, to begin laboring; to commence operations;
to contrive; to manage. "I 'll go another way to work with
him." --Shak.
{To set on work}, to cause to begin laboring; to set to work.
[Obs.] --Hooker.
{To set to work}, to employ; to cause to engage in any
business or labor.
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