Re: Engine vs Motor
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Re: Engine vs Motor
- From: Ken Ames <amesk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2004 17:36:43 -0700
Both words have their roots in old Latin.
Ken Ames
Quoting Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>:
> "Engine" essentially means "contraption", a mechanical assembly
> to carry out some complicated "works".
>
> Weaving engines, threshing engines, analytical engines,
> calculating engines, lifting engines, etc. Probably someone
> in 1750 made a pun about a lifting engine lifting an engine.
>
> It's an old word.
>
> Motor at least has a root involving "motive" as in motion as
> in auto-motive, self-moving. And so on.
>
> I bet it's a new word.
>
> If people know what you're talking about, it's the right word.
>
>
> "Boat anchor" sometimes works :-)
>
>
>
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