mechanist
|mech-a-nist|
/ˈmɛkənɪst/
maker/operator of machines
Etymology
'mechanist' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'mēkhanē' (μηχανή), where 'mēkhan-' meant 'device' or 'contrivance', combined with the agent-forming suffix '-ist' borrowed via Latin/French formations.
'mechanist' developed through Latin 'mechanicus' and Middle French/Latin technical vocabulary (e.g. French 'mécanique'), appearing in English alongside forms like Middle English 'mechanik' and later formed with '-ist' to denote a practitioner.
Initially it referred simply to someone dealing with machines or devices; over time it also came to denote an advocate of the philosophical doctrine of mechanism (explaining phenomena by mechanical laws).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who makes, repairs, or works with machines; a skilled worker or technician concerned with mechanical devices.
The mechanist adjusted the clock's gears until it kept perfect time.
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Noun 2
a proponent of mechanism in philosophy or science — someone who explains natural phenomena (including life) in terms of mechanical laws and processes.
As a mechanist, she argued that biological processes could be fully described by physics and chemistry.
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Last updated: 2025/11/04 12:51