The compound "work-at-home" is a modern English phrasal construction that transparently combines three foundational Germanic elements. The concept is not derived from a single classical root but is an analytic, descriptive phrase formed within English. The word "work" originates from the Proto-Germanic werkan, carrying the enduring sense of physical or mental effort. "Home" descends from Proto-Germanic haimaz, denoting a village or one's dwelling place. The preposition "at" functions as a simple locative link. The phrase's logic is entirely literal, directly describing the activity (work) occurring in the specified location (at home), a concept that gained significant cultural and economic relevance with the rise of telecommunications and digital technology.

Structure: work (to perform labor) + at (preposition) + home (dwelling) - work: From Old English weorc, meaning "something done, action, deed, labor." Functional role: Core noun/verb root. - at: From Old English æt, a preposition indicating location or point in space/time. Functional role: Preposition linking the action to a location. - home: From Old English hām, meaning "dwelling, house, estate, village." Functional role: Noun specifying the location.