A.work, business, “ἐργασίην φεύγουσα” h.Merc.486, etc.; opp. ἀργία, X.Mem.2.7.7; ἐ. ἀγαθή productive labour, Id.Vect.4.29 ; ἐργασίᾳ ἐγχειρεῖν, of bees, Arist. HA625b24 ; ἡ περὶ τὴν θάλατταν ἐ., of seamen, Pl.R.371b ; μὴ γενομένης ἐργασίας if no work was done, D.27.20 ; δὸς ἐργασίαν, c. inf., Lat. da operam ut.., Ev.Luc.12.58, cf. OGI441.109 (SC. de Stratonicensibus, i B. C.) : pl., “τὰς ἐν ὑπαίθρῳ ἐ. ἐργάζεσθαι” X.Oec.7.20 ; “ἐ. ἀνελεύθεροι” Arist.EN1121b33, cf. Epicur.Fr.196 (dub.).
2. function, “ἥπατος” Aret.SD1.15.
II. working at, making, manufacture, ἱματίων, ὑποδημάτων, etc., Pl.Grg.449d, Tht.146d, etc. ; “ἡ τῆς ἐσθῆτος ἐκ τῶν ἐρίων ἐ.” X.Oec.7.21 ; making up of a prescription, Hp.Ulc.14 : metaph., Πέργαμος ἀμφὶ τεαῖς χερὸς ἐργασίαις ἁλίσκεται Troy is (i.e. is doomed to be) taken in the part wrought by thy hands, Pi.O.8.42 ; ἐ. ἡδονῆς production of pleasure, Pl.Prt.353d ; ἐ. χρημάτων money-making, Arist.EN1160a16 (but administration of property, Leg.Gort. l.c.).
2. working of a material, “ἡ ἐ. τοῦ σιδήρου” Hdt.1.68 ; χαλκοῦ, ἐρίων, ξύλων, Pl.Chrm.173e ; “τῶν χρυσείων μετάλλων” Th.4.105, cf. Hyp.Eux.36 ; “πίττης” Thphr.HP9.2.6: most commonly, tillage of the ground, ἐ. γῆς, χώρας, Ar.Ra.1034(pl.), Isoc.7.30, etc.; “ἐ. κήπων” Pl. Min.316b ; ἐ. περὶ τὴν τροφήν preparation (i.e. mastication and digestion) of food, Arist.Juv.469a3 ; treatment of silphium, Thphr.HP6.3.2
3. generally, trade, business, X.Mem.3.10.1 ; ἐπὶ τῆς ἐργασίας ὢν τῆς κατὰ θάλατταν engaged in trade by sea, D.33.4 ; ἡ ἐ. τῆς τραπέζης the banking business, Id.36.6 ; ἐ. χρυσοχοϊκή, ἀρωματική, PLond.3.906.6 (ii A.D.), PFay.93.7 (ii A.D.) ; βαφεῖς τὴν ἐ. dyers by trade, PTeb.287.3(ii A.D.); esp. of a courtesan's trade, Hdt.2.135, D.18.129 ; of sexual intercourse, Arist.Pr.876a39.
4. practising, exercising, “τῶν τεχνῶν” Pl.Grg.450c ; “Κύπριδος” AP5.218 (Paul. Sil.); “ἀκαθαρσίας” Ep.Eph.4.19.
5. work of art, production, τετράγωνος ἐ., of the Hermae, Th.6.27 (non legit Sch.); τῶν τειχῶν αἱ ἐργασίαι the fortification works, Id.7.6.
7. production of a play, Arg. Men.Oxy.1235.108.
III. guild or company of workmen, ἡ ἐ. τῶν βαφέων Judeich Altertümer von Hierapolis50 ; ἐριοπλυτῶν ib. 40 ; ἐ. θρεμματική dub. sens., ib.227.