Past tense of sweat; perspired due to heat, exertion, or stress; also worked hard under poor conditions for low pay.
From Old English 'swætan,' related to 'sweat' from Germanic roots. The secondary meaning of exploitative labor ('sweated labor') developed in the 19th century, describing conditions that literally made workers sweat from poor ventilation and excessive demands.
The connection between physical perspiration and exploitative work gave us 'sweatshops'—places where the literal and metaphorical meanings of sweating converged. This dual meaning captures how language often reflects social conditions, turning a basic bodily function into a powerful descriptor of economic injustice.
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