English
macromechanical
Macromechanical 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
- Englishtodaymacromechanical
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
- Englishtodaymacromechanical
A compound of macro- + mechanical
Proto-Indo-European *meh₂ḱ- ‘to increase’
Proto-Indo-European *mh₂ḱrós ‘lean, meager’
Proto-Hellenic *makrós
Ancient Greek μακρός ‘long’
English macro-
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 Describing relatively large-scale mechanical processes
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek μηχανή / macromechanical