vending-machine
Meaning
A machine from which you can buy snacks, drinks, or other small items by putting coins or a card into it.
Structure
Usage
I got a bottle of water from the vending machine in the lobby.
The office vending machine is often stocked with chips and candy bars.
He inserted a dollar coin into the vending machine but it didn't dispense his soda.
Etymology
The term is a straightforward compound of the verb 'vend' and the noun 'machine'. 'Vend' originates from the Latin vendere, meaning "to sell," which itself is a contraction of venum dare ("to give for sale"). 'Machine' comes from the Latin machina, derived from the Doric Greek makhana, meaning a "device" or "contrivance." The compound "vending machine" logically describes an automatic apparatus designed for the specific function of selling goods, with the '-ing' suffix indicating its ongoing, operational nature. This transparent construction reflects the modern era of automated retail, where the machine performs the act of selling without a human vendor.
Analysis
- vend: From Latin vendere (to sell), a verb-forming element. - ing: From Old English -ende, a suffix forming the present participle. - machine: From Latin machina (device, contrivance), a noun-forming element.