engine

Where does the word "engine" come from? It comes from Latin ingenium, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Engine’s story begins in Latin: ingenium meant “innate talent, device.” The root of 'ingenious' and 'engineer'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as engin. Also meant a trick or war machine. It reached English by 1300s as engine. Steam engines of the 1700s fixed the modern sense. Today, engine means a machine that converts energy into motion.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ingenium "innate talent, device", the root of 'ingenious' and 'engineer'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval engin "skill; contrivance", also meant a trick or war machine.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s engine "skill; machine", steam engines of the 1700s fixed the modern sense.