• labor •
Printable Version Pronunciation: lay-bêr • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Noun, mass
Meaning: 1. Work for wages. 2. Difficult or exhausting work. 3. The process of childbirth. 4. The liberal political party in Britain and certain other countries (capitalized).
Notes: Keep in mind that today's is one of those words, like color-colour, favor-favour, spelled with a redundant [u] in Britain (labour). The adjective is laborious. Liberals in some countries are referred to as the Labor Party or just Labor, since Liberals have historically worked for the rights of workers.
In Play: The first Monday in September was designated Labor Day by Congress in 1894 to divert the attention of the US labor movement away from the May Day demonstrations in Europe. These demonstrations were organized by the socialist parties of Europe in support of the 8-hour workday. They began in Paris on May 1,1890, and that day eventually became International Labor Day, celebrated throughout the rest of the industrialized world. North America continues to celebrate working men and women today.
Word History: English labor is a perfect tracing of Latin labor "work," a word that went on to become Italian lavoro "work". The verb based on the Latin noun is laborare which underlies laboratorium "workplace", the source of laboratory. Elaborate comes from Latin elaborare "to work out" from ex "out" + laborare "work." All of us here at The Lexiteria wish all of you a happy and relaxing Labor Day weekend with your family and friends.
P.S. - Register for the Daily Good Word E-Mail! - You can get our daily Good Word sent directly to you via e-mail in either HTML or Text format. Go to our Registration Page to sign up today!
