motor English · revision 4651

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1447|origins=la movere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈməʊ.tə/, US /ˈmoʊ.t̬ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|motour]], [[bor|la|mōtor|t=mover]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) an agent noun from mōtus, the past participle of movēre “to move”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*mewh₁-|alt=*meue-|t=to push away]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[move]], [[motion]] and [[motive]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A controller or prime mover, in reference to God: 1447 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) In early use a motor was one who imparted motion.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The part that starts motion in a mechanism is from 1586,^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) and an agent or force that produces mechanical motion from 1644 in the OED and 1664 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) A machine that supplies motive power is from 1856, in Emerson,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the main modern sense dates from the mid-19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) The adjective, causing motion, is from 1823–1824,^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) and is used of nerves that carry impulses to the muscles.^(AHD) With the automobile the word became short for ''motor car'' (1895), and the verb, to travel by car, is from 1896–1897.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) ''Motorcycle'' is from 1896, ''motorist'' from 1896 in the OED, ''motorcade'' from 1913, on the model of cavalcade,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''motormouth'' from 1970.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1447 – a prime mover, God.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1586 – the part that starts a mechanism.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1644 – a force producing motion.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1823 – adjective, causing motion.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1856 – a machine supplying power.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1895 – ''motor car''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1896 – verb, to travel by car, and ''motorcycle''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1913 – ''motorcade''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A machine that changes [[electricity]] or fuel into movement to drive something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(British, informal)'' A [[car]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that produces or gives motion.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Driven by a motor, or relating to motor vehicles: ''the motor industry''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of nerves, carrying impulses from the brain or spinal cord to the [[muscle]]s.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relating to movements of the body: ''motor skills''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To travel by car.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[motordom]]

+ * [[motorless]]

+ * [[motorbike]]

+ * [[motorboat]]

+ * [[motorbus]]

+ * [[motorcycle]]

+ * [[motorise]]

+ * [[motorist]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[motoric]]

+ * [[move]]

+ * [[motion]]

+ * [[motive]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}