mechanic
/mɪˈkænɪk/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.79 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of or relating to a mechanic or artificer, or to the class of artisans; hence, rude; common; vulgar; base.
Obsolete
noun
Someone who builds or repairs machinery, a technician; now specifically, someone who works with and repairs the mechanical parts of a motor vehicle, aircraft or similar.
Example Sentences
- "[…] these mechanick Philosophers being in no Way able to give an Account thereof from the necessary motion of Matter, unguided by Mind for Ends […]"
- "But, for the unquiet heart and brain, A use in measured language lies; The sad mechanic exercise, Like dull narcotics, numbing pain."
- "Mechanic slaves, With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers."
- "Authors both Sacred and Profane we see complain of the Level of Learning, with Mechanick Ignorance: [...]"
- "But then they did not wrong themſelves ſo much, / To make a God, a Hero, or a King, / (Stripp'd of his golden Crown and purple Robe) / Deſcend to a Mechanick Dialect, / Nor (to avoid ſuch meanneſs) ſoaring high / With empty ſound, and aiery notions fly; [...]"
- "Sometimes he ply'd the ſtrong mechanic Tool, / Or rear'd the Fabrick from the fineſt Draught; [...]"
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *megʰ-der.? Ancient Greek μηχανή (mēkhanḗ) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós) Ancient Greek μηχανικός (mēkhanikós)bor. Latin mēchanicusder. Old French mecaniquebor. Middle English mekanyk English mechanic From Middle English mekanyk (“mechanical”), from Old French mecanique, from Latin mechanicus (“of or belonging to machines or mechanics, inventive”), from Ancient Greek μηχανικός (mēkhanikós, “pertaining to machines or contrivance, mechanic, ingenious, inventive”), from μηχανή (mēkhanḗ, “a machine, contrivance”); see machine.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: mekanyk, mecanique, mechanicus, μηχανικός
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /mɪˈkænɪk/
- British English: /mɪˈkænɪk/