Where does “machine” come from?

Machine comes from Middle French machine, from Latin machina, from Ancient Greek μαχανά and μηχανή, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root megʰ-.

machine (English): A device that directs and controls energy, often...

Definitions

  1. A device that directs and controls energy, often...

Ancestry of “machine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchmachinemachine; device
2Latinmāchinacontrivance
3Ancient GreekμαχανάDoric form of μηχᾰνή
4Ancient Greekμηχανήcontrivance, machine, device, gear; way, means
5Ancient Greekμῆχοςmeans, expedient, remedy
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmeǵʰ-to be able

Words derived from “machine

Every word from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ-