cybernetics English · revision 758

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌsaɪ.bə(ɹ)ˈnɛ.tɪks/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Coined in 1948 by the American mathematician Norbert Wiener,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) from [[grc|κυβερνήτης|tr=kubernḗtēs|t=steersman, pilot; governor]] and the suffix [[-ics]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) The Greek word comes from ''kubernân'' “to steer, govern”, of uncertain, probably foreign origin,^(Etymonline) and is also the ultimate source of [[govern]].^(Hoad 1986) A French ''cybernétique'' “the art of governing” had been used in the 1830s.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The theory or study of communication and control in living organisms and machines (1948).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Wiener wrote in 1948 that he had decided to call the whole field of control and communication theory, whether in the machine or in the animal, ''cybernetics''.^(Cresswell 2021) The adjective ''cybernetic'' (1951) is a back-formation,^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) and ''cybernation'' (1962) a blend with ''automation''.^(Barnhart 1995) The word also gave rise to the combining form ''[[cyber-]]'', as in ''cyberspace'' (1982), ''cyberpunk'' (1983) and ''cybersex'' (1991).^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1830s – French ''cybernétique'', the art of governing.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1948 – ''cybernetics'', coined by Norbert Wiener.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1951 – ''cybernetic''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1962 – ''cybernation''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1982 – ''cyberspace''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The theoretical study of communication and control processes in biological, mechanical and electronic systems, especially the comparison of automatic control systems such as the [[nervous system]] and brain with mechanical and electronic ones.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cybernetic]]

+ * [[cybernetically]]

+ * [[cyberneticist]]

+ * [[biocybernetics]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cyber]]

+ * [[cyber-]]

+ * [[cybercafe]]

+ * [[cybernetician]]

+ * [[cyberpunk]]

+ * [[cyberspace]]

+ * [[cyborg]]

+ * [[governance]]

+ * [[governor]]

+ * [[govern]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The word is plural in form but takes a singular verb.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}