-work

suffix

Denoting a craft involving a particular material, tool, or practitioner

“waxwork”

Similar
-craft
OriginMiddle English -work ← Old English -weorc →
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Meanings

suffix
  1. Denoting a craft involving a particular material, tool, or practitioner

    woodwork

    3 more examples

    masonwork

    metalwork

    needlework

    Synonyms: -craft

  2. Denoting a structure or work of art crafted chiefly from a given material

    waxwork

    3 more examples

    ironwork

    paintwork

    stonework

  3. Denoting the structure or mechanism of a given object.

    clockwork

    3 more examples

    bridgework

    coachwork

    latticework

Synonyms & antonyms

suffixDenoting a craft involving a particular material, tool, or practitioner

Similar
-craft
Also see
-craft

Origin

  1. Old English-weorc
  2. Middle English-work
  3. English-work

From Middle English -work, -werk, from Old English -weorc, -ġeweorc, equivalent to English work. Compare also Saterland Frisian -werk, Dutch -werk, German -werk, Norwegian -verk.

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

-work. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-work

MLA

“-work.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-work. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-work,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-work.

Source: -work on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.