computer-driven
UK[kəmˈpjuːtə drɪvn̩]US[kəmˈpjuːt̬ɚ drɪvn̩]
adj
Controlled or operated by a computer or computers.
adj
Determined or heavily influenced by the use of computers.
Morpheme Breakdown
computer
driven
computer
machine
driven
propelled
Etymology
The compound adjective 'computer-driven' is a modern formation that combines the 20th-century term 'computer', derived from the Latin verb for calculation, with the Old English participle 'driven', meaning propelled or compelled. It follows a productive English compounding pattern where a noun ('computer') is combined with a past participle ('driven') to create an adjective describing the agent of the action. The literal sense of "propelled by a computer" logically extends to the abstract modern meanings of being controlled, operated, or fundamentally shaped by automated digital processing, reflecting the pervasive influence of technology in contemporary systems and decision-making.
Analysis
Structure: computer (machine) + driven (propelled)
- computer: From Latin 'computare' (to calculate, reckon). A modern English noun for an electronic device that processes data.
- driven: From Old English 'drīfan' (to force to move, propel). The past participle of 'drive', used here as an adjective-forming suffix indicating being powered or controlled.
Examples
The factory has become fully computer-driven, with robots performing most tasks.
We live in a computer-driven age where data analysis shapes many aspects of life.
The research was a computer-driven simulation of climate patterns.