English

do a lot of work

To perform a large amount of work.

    Etymology graph

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    • borrowed
    • derived
    • parts
    • meaning component
    • sound component
    • related
    React Flow

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    Origin

    From do + a lot + of + work. Attested as early as 1986. https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2021-April/159701.html

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • partEnglishdo “A syntactic marker in a question whose main verb is not another auxiliary verb or be.”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishdon “to put on”
        • inheritedOld Englishdōn
        • inheritedOld Englishdōn on
      • derivedLatinDominus “The Lord”
    • partEnglisha lot “A large amount.”
    • partEnglishof “From (a place); off.”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishof
        • inheritedOld Englishof
    • partEnglishwork “Labour, occupation, job.”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishwerk
        • inheritedOld Englishweorc
        • inheritedOld Englishwærc
      • inheritedMiddle Englishworchen “to work”
        • inheritedOld Englishwyrċan “to work”

    Sources