Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “programmable” come from?

Programmable comes from English program, French programme, and Latin programma, ultimately from Ancient Greek graphō meaning "to write," combined with Latin -abilis forming adjectives meaning "capable of being."

programmable (English): Capable of being programmed; A calculator that...

Definitions

  1. Capable of being programmed; A calculator that...

Ancestry of “programmable”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishprogramA set of structured activities; A leaflet listing...
2Frenchprogrammea program; first-person singular present...
3Latinprogrammaa proclamation, edict
4Ancient Greekπρόγραμμαwritten public notice, edict; a written public...
5Ancient Greekπρογράφωto set forth as a public notice; I set forth as a...
6Ancient Greekπρό-in front of; before
7Ancient Greekπρόbefore; before, in front, forth, forward; before,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanprótoward, leading to
9Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “programmable”

  • programmability
  • nonprogrammable
  • unprogrammable
  • multiprogrammable
  • multiprogrammability
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →