wyrcan

• wyrċean, wirċean, wirċan

From Proto-Germanic *wurkijaną. More at modern work.

• IPA^(key): /ˈwyr.t͡ʃɑn/, [ˈwyrˠ.t͡ʃɑn]

wyrċan

1. to make
   • The Dialogues of Solomon and Saturn

     Saga mē, hū lange worhte man Noes earce?

     Tell me, how long were they making Noe's ark?

   • 9th century, Bald's Leechbook vol. I

     Mintan wel ġetrifulode menġ wiþ huniġ, wyrċ tō lȳtlum clīewene, lǣt forswelgan.

     Mix well-ground mint with honey, make it into a little ball, have it swallowed.

2. to work
   • c. 973, Æthelwold, translation of the Rule of Saint Benedict

     Ān and fīftiġ. Be þām ġebrōðrum þe feorr fram ċirican wyrċaþ.

     51. On the brothers who work far from church.

3. to make a gesture
   • Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church

     ...ðā ðā hǣðenan āhēowon þæt trēow mid ormǣtre blisse, þæt hit brastliende sāh tō ðām hālgan were, hetelīċe swīðe. Þā worhte hē onġēan ðām hrēosendum trēowe þǣs Hǣlendes rōde tācn, and hit ðǣrrihte ætstōd, wende ðā onġēan, and hrēas underbæc, and fornēan offēoll ðā ðe hit ǣr forcurfon.

     Then the heathens cut down the tree with great joy, so that, rustling, it fell towards the holy man very violently. Then he made the sign of the Savior's cross to the falling tree, and it immediately stood still, turned around, and fell backwards, and almost fell upon those who had previously cut it.

• An alternative metathetic past tense stem of wroht-/ġewroht also occurs.

• weorc
• wyrht
• wyrhta

• Middle English: werchen, wirchen, werken
  • English: work, wrought (from past participle worhte)
  • Scots: wark, wirk