English
mechanicalness
Mechanicalness comes from Latin mēchanicus ‘mechanic’, and goes back to Ancient Greek μηχανή ‘contrivance, machine, device, gear’.
- 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‘mechanic’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400mecanique
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mechanic
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500mechanical
- English1500–presentsame form
- Englishearliest quotation 2023mechanicalness
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‘mechanic’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400mecanique
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500mechanic
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500mechanical
- English1500–presentsame form
- Englishearliest quotation 2023mechanicalness
Earliest quotation: 2023, Devika Rege, Quarterlife: “To conclude the ceremony, Raghu Agashe immerses the Lord…”
A compound of mechanical + -ness
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, magician, dismay, mower, mage, magus, yayo, 79 more
through Ancient Greek μηχανή ‘contrivance, machine, device, gear’
through Latin mēchanicus ‘mechanic’
through English mechanical
Today it means
noun The state or characteristic of being mechanical.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek μηχανή / mechanicalness