3 ms·

That's how language works. We call people "engineers" who have never and will never work on any engines.

• dtorres 6y ago
  "engineer" comes from ingenium (mind, talent) in Latin. Engineer in most latin languages would be a completely different word to Engine (usually Motor)
• ithkuil 6y ago
  engineer /ɛndʒɪˈnɪə/ Origin: "Middle English (denoting a designer and constructor of fortifications and weapons; formerly also as ingineer ): in early use from Old French engigneor, from medieval Latin ingeniator, from ingeniare ‘contrive, devise’, from Latin ingenium (see engine); in later use from French ingénieur or Italian ingegnere, also based on Latin ingenium, with the ending influenced by -eer."
  • PascLeRasc 6y ago
    This is also where the term 'civil engineer' comes from [1]. It was civilian-focused "engineering" of fortifications like bridges or roads. I've wondered for a while if there was any controversy around the first use of the term "electrical engineer" or "chemical engineer" like how there was with software engineering not being considered "real engineering" around 10 years ago, but I can't really find any information on that. [1] https://www.britannica.com/technology/civil-engineering https://www.britannica.com/technology/civil-engineering