engine English · revision 3027

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=la ingenium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈen.dʒɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|engyn]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|engin|t=skill, cleverness; trick; war machine]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|ingenium|t=inborn qualities, talent]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) in Late Latin also “a war engine, battering ram”,^(Etymonline) literally “that which is inborn”, from [[m|la|in-|t=in]] and the root of [[m|la|gignere|t=to beget, produce]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*gene-|t=to give birth, beget]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[ingenious]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A mechanical device, especially one used in war: probably before 1300, in ''Kyng Alisaunder'',^(Barnhart 1988) and about 1300 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Also about 1300, it meant skill, cleverness, trickery.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The original senses were ingenuity and cunning, and native wit or genius,^(Cresswell 2021)^(OED 1989) which survives in Scots as ''ingine''.^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998) From these came the product of ingenuity, a plot or snare, and also a tool or weapon, especially a large war machine such as a battering ram.^(Cresswell 2021)^(COED 2004) The broad sense “machine” survives in ''fire engine'' and ''engine of destruction''.^(Barnhart 1988) The sense “a machine that converts energy into mechanical power” emerged in the 18th century,^(Etymonline) first in compounds such as ''steam engine'' (1751) and ''internal combustion engine'' (1884),^(Barnhart 1988) and in the 19th century the word was used especially of steam engines.^(Etymonline) ''Engineer'' is first a builder of military engines, before 1338.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – a machine of war.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – skill, trickery.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1330 – a mechanical device.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1386 – native talent.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1751 – ''steam engine''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1868 – verb, to fit with steam engines.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1884 – ''internal combustion engine''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A machine that converts [[energy]] into mechanical force or motion, especially one that burns [[fuel]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A railway [[locomotive]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A means or agent by which something is done: ''an engine of change''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A machine or tool, especially one used in war.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(computing)'' A program that performs a core function: ''a search engine''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[engineless]]

+ * [[engineer]]

+ * [[engineman]]

+ * [[enginery]]

+ * [[midengine]]

+ * [[multiengine]]

+ * [[reengine]]

+ * [[Carnot engine]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[genius]]

+ * [[ingenious]]

+ * [[gin]]

+ * [[kin]]

+ * [[genital]]

+ * [[ingenuity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}