Kastalia Knowledge Management System · Glasperlenspiel template · knot 3826

Etymology of the word "machine"

🌐 public · created AE481231 (31.12.2018) · open in the standard editor view · 📽 open as presentation

  • 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.

Ancestors (1 superordinated path)