computer
UK[kəmˈpjuːtə]US[kəmˈpjuːt̬ɚ]
n
An electronic machine that can store, organize, and find information, do calculations, and control other machines.
n
A person who makes calculations, especially as a job.
Morpheme Breakdown
compute
er
compute
to calculate, reckon, count together
er
Etymology
The word 'computer' originates from the Latin verb 'computare', meaning 'to sum up, reckon, or calculate', which itself is a compound of 'com-' (together) and 'putare' (to reckon, think). Initially, in the 17th century, a 'computer' referred solely to a human who performed mathematical calculations. The term's application shifted to mechanical calculating devices in the 19th century, and by the mid-20th century, it was firmly established for programmable electronic digital machines. This evolution perfectly encapsulates the agent suffix '-er', transforming the action of 'computing' into the entity—whether human or machine—that performs it.
Analysis
Structure: compute + er
- compute: From Latin 'computare', meaning 'to calculate, reckon, count together'.
- er: An English agent noun suffix, indicating 'a person or thing that performs an action'.
Examples
The entire system is controlled by a central computer.
She works as a computer for an insurance company, calculating risks and premiums.
My old computer can no longer run the latest software.