entry
polytechnic
/ˌpɑːliˈtɛknɪk/Involving or teaching many technical subjects
From Greek πολύς (many) + Greek τέχνη (art).
from Greek πολύτεχνος "skilled in many arts,"
from Greek πολύτεχνος "skilled in many arts,"
from French polytechnique
Word Ancestry
from Greek πολύτεχνος "skilled in many arts,"
from Greek πολύτεχνος "skilled in many arts,"
from French polytechnique
Picture revolutionary Paris in 1794: France needed engineers, so it created a school designed to gather many technical arts under one roof. Its name, École polytechnique, drew on the Greek πολύτεχνος, meaning “skilled in many arts”—a compact ancient advertisement for intellectual versatility. The first half is the same poly- seen in polyglot and polymath; the second, τέχνη, is the ancestor of technique and technology. English adopted the adjective in 1805 and shortened the institution’s name into the noun by 1836. A modern polytechnic is therefore, at heart, a school whose name promises not one tool in the workshop, but the whole toolbox.
The Story
Picture revolutionary Paris in 1794: France needed engineers, so it created a school designed to gather many technical arts under one roof. Its name, École polytechnique, drew on the Greek πολύτεχνος, meaning “skilled in many arts”—a compact ancient advertisement for intellectual versatility. The first half is the same poly- seen in polyglot and polymath; the second, τέχνη, is the ancestor of technique and technology. English adopted the adjective in 1805 and shortened the institution’s name into the noun by 1836. A modern polytechnic is therefore, at heart, a school whose name promises not one tool in the workshop, but the whole toolbox.
Modern Usage
An indie band blending progressive rock, pop vocals, and strange 1980s-style guitars.
Notable References
- Urban Dictionary entry describing Polytechnic as a band playing shows in Bartlett, Illinois
Kin & Kindred
From 'πολύς'·many, much
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'τέχνη'·art, craft, skill
Derived Terms
English words from this root