Where does “machine” come from?

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

machine (Middle French): machine; device

Definitions

  1. machine; device

Ancestry of “machine”, step by step

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

Words derived from “machine

Every word from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ-