Where does “submachine” come from?
Submachine is formed from English machine combined with the Latin prefix sub, ultimately deriving from Latin machina, Ancient Greek μηχανή, and the Proto-Indo-European root megʰ-.
submachine (English): A machine forming part of a larger machine; Of or...
Definitions
- A machine forming part of a larger machine; Of or...
Ancestry of “submachine”, step by step
submachine traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English machine
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | machine | A device that directs and controls energy, often... |
| 2 | Middle French | machine | machine; device |
| 3 | Latin | māchina | contrivance |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | μαχανά | Doric form of μηχᾰνή |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μηχανή | contrivance, machine, device, gear; way, means |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μῆχος | means, expedient, remedy |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | meǵʰ- | to be able |
via English submachine gun
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | submachine gun | A type of short range machine gun that is carried... |
| 2 | English | sub- | under, beneath; subsidiary, secondary; almost,... |
| 3 | Latin | sub- | under, sub |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | upó | under, below |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ewp- | — |