Etymograph

English

mutator

From mutate + -or.

Formed from mutate + -or

Proto-Indo-European *meyth₂- ‘to exchange’

Latin mūtō ‘to exchange’

English mutate

The story

The video gaming sense likely originated in the video game Unreal Tournament (1999).

Today it means

noun That which causes mutation or change.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / mutator