Where does “machine” come from?

machine (French) comes from Middle French machine, from Latin māchina, from Ancient Greek μαχανά, from Ancient Greek μηχανή, from Ancient Greek μῆχος, from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ- — to be able.

machine (French): machine, device; machine

Definitions

  1. machine, device; machine

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-