English
immechanical
Immechanical comes from Latin mēchanicus ‘engineer’, from Ancient Greek μηχανικός ‘of or pertaining to machines, mechanical’, and ultimately from μηχανή.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμηχανήmēkhanḗ‘contrivance, machine, device, gear’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEμηχανικόςmēkhanikós‘of or pertaining to machines, mechanical’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmēchanicus‘engineer’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400mecanique
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mechanic
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500mechanical
- English1500–presentsame form
- Englishearliest quotation 1705immechanical
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμηχανήmēkhanḗ‘contrivance, machine, device, gear’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEμηχανικόςmēkhanikós‘of or pertaining to machines, mechanical’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmēchanicus‘engineer’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400mecanique
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mechanic
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500mechanical
- English1500–presentsame form
- Englishearliest quotation 1705immechanical
Earliest quotation: 1705, George Cheyne, Of the Physical Laws, and the Uniform Appearances of Nature.: “But ev'n the admiſſion of ſuch an Hypotheſis removes…”
A compound of im- + mechanical
Ancient Greek μηχανή ‘contrivance, machine, device, gear’
…
Latin mēchanicus ‘mechanic’
Old French mecanique
Middle English mechanic
Middle English mechanical
English mechanical
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- ‘to be able’
may, might, main, yay, mechanism, magician, dismay, mower, mage, magus, yayo, 74 more
through Ancient Greek μηχανή ‘contrivance, machine, device, gear’
through Ancient Greek μηχανικός ‘of or pertaining to machines, mechanical’
through Latin mēchanicus ‘engineer’
through Old French mecanique
through Middle English mechanical
through English mechanical
Today it means
adj Not mechanical.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek μηχανή / immechanical