teamwork
Meaning
the combined effective actions of a group of people.
the cooperative effort by a team to achieve a common goal.
Structure
Usage
the project's success was due to excellent teamwork.
good teamwork requires clear communication and mutual respect.
the coach emphasized the importance of teamwork over individual talent.
Etymology
the word 'teamwork' is a transparent compound formed from two native english elements. 'team' originates from the old english 'tēam', which referred to a family, offspring, or a team of animals harnessed together. 'work' derives from the old english 'weorc', meaning a deed, labor, or task. the literal combination, "the work of a team," directly reflects the modern abstract meaning. the concept evolved from the physical coordination of draft animals to the collaborative effort of people, emphasizing coordinated action towards a shared objective, a logic perfectly preserved in the compound's structure.
Analysis
team: from old english tēam (family, lineage, group of draft animals), functioning as the core noun denoting a group. work: from old english weorc (something done, labor, action), functioning as the core noun denoting effort or activity.