motorcar
UK[ˈməʊtəkɑː]US[ˈmoʊtərkɑːr]
n
A road vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, typically with four wheels; an automobile or car.
Morpheme Breakdown
motor
car
motor
engine
car
vehicle
Etymology
The word 'motorcar' is a transparent compound formed in the late 19th century from two established English words. 'Motor', derived from the Latin verb movere (to move), refers to the engine that provides propulsion. 'Car', with a lineage tracing back to the Latin carrus for a wheeled wagon, denotes the passenger vehicle. The term's logic is perfectly literal: a "car" moved by a "motor." It was an early, descriptive name for the automobile, distinguishing it from horse-drawn carriages. While largely superseded by the shorter 'car' or 'automobile', 'motorcar' retains a formal or historical nuance.
Analysis
Structure: motor (engine) + car (vehicle)
- motor: From Latin motor (mover), from movere (to move). In this compound, it functions as the source of power.
- car: From Anglo-Norman carre, ultimately from Latin carrus (wheeled vehicle). In this compound, it functions as the object being moved or the vehicle itself.
Examples
The vintage motorcar was the centerpiece of the classic auto show.
Early motorcars were often unreliable and difficult to start.
He restored the antique motorcar to its original, gleaming condition.