† aworkadv.
Obsolete (rare and poetic in later use).
At or to work; into activity; in action. Esp. in to set awork.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > in operation [phrase]
aworka1398
at work1549
in action1584
on foot1586
in motion1598
in operation1878
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. vii. xxi. 366 Somtyme for stoppinge noþing is herd outwarde, but þe hieringe is sette aworke [L. immutatur] wiþ inward þinges, so þat þe pacient weneþ þat þe noise be wiþoute.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 16 Monkis and freris assenten to werris wiþouten cause, and bringen þes lordis awerke, to make hem enemyes.
1450 W. Yelverton in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 524 Asay how ye can sett hem awerk in the parlement.
c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 2599 Tho was Durnedale set a werke.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. lvv/2 Prouostes and maystres..to sette them awerke.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. f. li/1 They helde the englysshe archers well awarke all the day.
1556 in Vicary's Anat. Bodie of Man (1888) App. iii. 175 Beggers..to be sett a worke, & be compelled..to gett their owne lyvinges.
1600 S. Rowlands Letting of Humors Blood i. 47 Setting his mynt aworke to coyne false tales.
1679 R. South Serm. Several Occasions 296 To move, and set a Work the great Principles of Actions.
1694 W. Wotton Anc. & Mod. Learning 307 To set their Members awork to collect a perfect History of Nature.
1724 R. Welton Substance Christian Faith iv. 141 Let us also pray to God to secure us against the Tools and Instruments that are set awork by the Grand Achitophels.
1855 R. Browning Saul (rev. ed.) ix, in Men & Women II. 121 The throe That, a-work in the rock, helps its labour.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.a1398