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

Inflected Forms

noun

• 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

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