μηχανή

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Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

Unknown. Traditionally derived from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- (to be able), with cognates including Old Church Slavonic могѫ (mogǫ) and Old English magan, miht, mæġen (English may, might, main). See also Μάγος (Mágos).

Beekes argues for a Pre-Greek origin, based on the infix -αν- (-an-), as well as formal difficulties in deriving the word's ablauting paradigm from *megʰ-, and considers it a doublet of Ancient Greek μάγγανον (mánganon, charm, block (wheelbox)).[1]

Pronunciation

 

Noun

μηχᾰνή (mēkhanḗf (genitive μηχᾰνῆς); first declension (Attic, Ionic, Koine)

  1. contrivance, machine, device, gear
  2. way, means

Inflection

Derived terms

Descendants

See also descendants from Doric μᾱχᾰνᾱ́ (mākhanā́).

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “μηχανή”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 949-50

Greek

Etymology

From Ancient Greek μηχᾰνή (mēkhanḗ).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key):
  • Hyphenation: μη‧χα‧νή

Noun

μηχανή (michaníf (plural μηχανές)

  1. machine, engine
    Synonym: μηχάνημα (michánima)
  2. locomotive, the power unit of a train which does not carry passengers or freight itself
  3. (colloquial) motorcycle, motorbike
    Synonym: μοτοσυκλέτα (motosykléta)
  4. (figuratively) a way to deceive people

Declension

Derived terms

Further reading