An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The occupation or science of cultivating the land, producing crops, and feeding, breeding, and raising livestock; farming.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from M.Fr., from L. agricultura, compound of agri cultura “cultivation of land,” from agri, genitive of ager “a field”

• cultura “cultivation,” → culture.

Etymology (PE): Kešâvarzi “agriculture,” from kešâvarz “farmer, cultivator,” from kešt-varz. The first component kešt, variant kâšt, from kâštan, keštan, variants of kâridan “to cultivate, to plant;” Mid.Pers. kištan, kâridan “to sow, plant; to make furrows;” Av. kar- “to strew seed, cultivate,” kāraiieiti “cultivates;” cf. Skt. kar- “to scatter, strew, pour out.” The second component varz agent noun of
varzidan “to labor, exercise, practise;” cf. Gk. ergon “work;”
Arm. gorc “work;” Lith. verziu “tie, fasten, squeeze,” vargas “need, distress;” Goth. waurkjan; O.E. wyrcan “work,” wrecan “to drive, hunt, pursue;” PIE base *werg- “to do, to work.”