Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “polytechnic” come from?

Polytechnic comes from French polytechnique, a term for an institution teaching applied sciences and technical subjects.

polytechnic (English): that teaches applied arts, sciences, technology,...

Definitions

  1. that teaches applied arts, sciences, technology,...

Ancestry of “polytechnic”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchpolytechniquepolytechnic
2Frenchtechniquetechnical; technique, technology
3Latintechnicustechnical
4Ancient Greekτεχνικόςtechnical; artistic, skillful; of or pertaining...
5Ancient Greekτέχνηcraft, skill, trade; art; cunning, wile
6Ancient Greek-λογίαBase for nouns denoting the study of something,...
7Ancient GreekλόγοςThat which is said: word, sentence, speech,...
8Ancient GreekλέγωI put in order, arrange, gather; I choose, count,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanleǵ-to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to...
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