computer (English)
Where does "computer" come from?
The word 'computer' originates from the combination of the verb 'compute' and the agent suffix '-er,' tracing its distant roots back to the Proto-Indo-European root '*pewH-.' Originally appearing in 1613, it described a literal human being, usually a scientist or mathematician, whose job was to perform complex calculations. It wasn't until the late 19th century that the term evolved to describe the mechanical, and later electronic, programmable devices we rely on today.
Full etymology tree
- computer (English), 'A person employed to perform computations; one who computes.'
- suffix compute (English), 'To reckon, calculate.'
- borrowed computer (Old French)
- inherited computō (Latin), 'to calculate, compute, reckon together'
- borrowed computer (Old French)
- suffix -er (English), 'A person or thing that does an action indicated by the root verb; used to form an agent noun.'
- inherited -ere (Middle English), 'Forms agent nouns from other nouns or verbs, especially occupational; -er'
- inherited -ere (Old English), 'masculine agent suffix, originally applied only to nouns'
- inherited *-ārijaz (Proto-Germanic), '-er. Forms agent nouns, especially denoting occupations, from other nouns.'
- borrowed -ārius (Latin), 'Used to form adjectives from nouns or numerals.'
- inherited *-ārijaz (Proto-Germanic), '-er. Forms agent nouns, especially denoting occupations, from other nouns.'
- inherited -ere (Old English), 'masculine agent suffix, originally applied only to nouns'
- inherited -ere (Middle English), 'Forms agent nouns from other nouns or verbs, especially occupational; -er'
- suffix compute (English), 'To reckon, calculate.'
Direct ancestors
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris