Etymology of the word "machine"

  • English word machine comes through Middle French from Latin machina, which in turn derives from the Greek (Doric μαχανά makhana, Ionic μηχανή mekhane "contrivance, device, engine", a derivation from μῆχος mekhos "means, expedient, remedy")
  • Greek "mekhane" was potentially derived from Proto-Indo-European root *magh- meaning "to be able, have power." Linguists believe that English words like may, might, magi, magic, make or German words like machen, Macht etc. are derived from the PIE-root *magh.
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