parergon

American  

[pa-rur-gon] / pæˈrɜr gɒn /

noun

parerga plural

1. something that is an accessory to a main work or subject; embellishment.

2. work undertaken in addition to one's principal work.

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parergon British  

/ pəˈrɛəɡɒn /

noun

1. work that is not one's main employment

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• parerga
  plural

Etymology

Origin of parergon

First recorded in 1595–1605; < Latin parergon “extra ornament,” from Greek párergon “secondary business, side job,” noun use of neuter of párergos “beside the main subject, subordinate,” equivalent to par- par- ¹ ( def. ) + érg(on) work + -os adj. suffix

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

parergon parerga

Our Christian service is not to be regarded as a 'bye-product' or parergon.

From Expositions of Holy Scripture St. Mark by Maclaren, Alexander

But that was a mere parergon; to secure Richard Mutimer was the great end steadily held in view.

From Demos by Gissing, George

The interest in philosophical and theological questions was perhaps even greater than among the Brahmans, and they were recognized not as parerga to a life of business or amusement, but as occupations in themselves.

From Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 1 by Eliot, Charles, Sir