The word computer originally referred not to a machine, but to a person who computes—someone who performs calculations or solves mathematical problems. Etymologically, computer is derived from Latin roots meaning “to reckon together” or “to sum up.” It later evolved to describe mechanical, then electronic devices capable of performing computations and processing data.
Etymological Breakdown:
1. Latin: computare
- Meaning: “to count,” “to sum up,” “to calculate,” “to reckon”
- From:
- com- = “together”
- putare = “to prune,” “to clean,” later “to reckon,” “to think”
Computare originally meant to combine or reconcile figures, as in adding things up to arrive at a result. The verb putare evolved from a sense of clearing or setting in order to assessing, estimating, or evaluating.
2. Late Latin & Middle French: computeur
- Used in legal and accounting contexts to describe one who reconciles numbers or settles accounts
- Basis for early English borrowings before the modern term was standardized
3. Middle English: computen (verb)
- Appeared around the 14th century, meaning to count, calculate, or estimate numerically
4. English: computer (17th–18th century)
- Originally: A person who performs computations, often in astronomy, navigation, or finance
- By the 19th century: Also applied to teams of human “computers” doing repetitive calculations (e.g., in observatories or military)
- By the mid-20th century: The term shifted to refer to machines designed to perform those tasks, especially electronic computing devices
Literal Meaning:
Computer = “One who reckons or calculates together”
→ Originally a person, then a machine, capable of performing mathematical calculations, and eventually processing information more broadly.
Expanded Usage:
1. Historical (Human):
- Human computer: A person employed to perform mathematical calculations manually (e.g., “NASA computers” like Katherine Johnson)
2. Mechanical and Electronic:
- Mechanical computer: Devices like the analytical engine (Babbage) or slide rules
- Electronic computer: Modern programmable devices capable of processing, storing, and retrieving data
3. Digital / Modern:
- Personal computer (PC): A general-purpose computing device used by individuals
- Supercomputer: High-performance machine used for scientific computation
- Quantum computer: A theoretical or emerging model using quantum bits (qubits) for exponential speedup in certain tasks
Related Words and Cognates:
| Word | Root Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Compute | Latin computare | To calculate or reckon |
| Computation | Latin computatio | The process of calculating |
| Putative | Latin putare | Supposed, estimated (reflecting judgment or estimation) |
| Account | Latin computare (via compte) | Originally meant to compute or settle records |
| Reckon | Germanic root, but parallel meaning | To estimate or count |
Metaphorical Insight:
Computer evolved from flesh to metal, from human mind to machine logic, reflecting the human desire to organize, process, and understand complexity. Rooted in the act of reckoning together, the computer became the externalization of human thought, capable of extending memory, accelerating reasoning, and structuring data into meaning. It is not just a machine—it is the mirror of rational organization, and the executor of logic.