locomotive

locomotive
\ \ [17] Locomotive denotes etymologically ‘moving by change of place’. It is an anglicization of modern Latin locōmōtīvus, a compound formed from locusplace’ and mōtīvuscausing to move’ (source of English motive). Originally it was used strictly as an adjective, and it was not until the early 19th century that the present-day noun use (which began life as an abbreviation of locomotive engine) emerged.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • locomotive — [ lɔkɔmɔtiv ] n. f. • 1834; de locomotif 1 ♦ Engin, véhicule de traction servant à remorquer les trains. ⇒ machine ; locomotrice, motrice. Locomotive à vapeur, à moteur diesel, électrique. Atteler une locomotive à un train. Abrév. fam. (1878)… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Locomotive — Lo co*mo tive, n. A locomotive engine; a self propelling wheel carriage, especially one which bears a steam boiler and one or more steam engines which communicate motion to the wheels and thus propel the carriage, used to convey goods or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Locomotive — Lo co*mo tive, a. [Cf. F. locomotif. See {Locomotion}.] 1. Moving from place to place; changing place, or able to change place; as, a locomotive animal. [1913 Webster] 2. Used in producing motion; as, the locomotive organs of an animal. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • locomotive — (adj.) 1610s, pertaining to movement, from Fr. locomotif, from L. loco from a place (ablative of locus place; see LOCUS (Cf. locus)) + L.L. motivus moving (see MOTIVE (Cf. motive)). The noun meaning railroad engine is from 1829, short for …   Etymology dictionary

  • locomotive — [lō΄kəmōt′iv] adj. [< LOCO + LL motivus, moving] 1. of locomotion 2. moving or capable of moving from one place to another; not stationary 3. designating or of engines that move under their own power [locomotive design] n. an engine that can… …   English World dictionary

  • Locomotive — Locomotive, so v.w. Dampfwagen …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Locomotive — Locomotive, Dampfmaschine, welche sich selbst und damit auch andere ihr angehängte Gegenstände fortbewegt, der Dampfwagen auf Eisenbahnen; indeß gehören auch die Schiffsdampfmaschinen zu den L.n. Die Eisenbahn L. ist auf einem Wagen angebracht,… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • locomotive — index moving (in motion) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • locomotive — ► NOUN ▪ a powered railway vehicle used for pulling trains. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ relating to locomotion …   English terms dictionary

  • Locomotive — A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco from a place , ablative of locus , place + Medieval Latin motivus , causing motion , and is a shortened form of the term… …   Wikipedia

  • Locomotive — Exemple de Locomotive à vapeur Exemple de …   Wikipédia en Français

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