ENGINEER, English, engin-er; Old French, enginier; French, ingénieur. A person of genius or ingenuity.
In the Latin-English dictionary we find:
Ingĕnǐōsus-a-um. (ingenium) Naturally clever, talented, acute, able, ingenious.
Students of engineering history accept the foregoing definitions as satisfactory root forms of the word "Engineer." Thus we find the engineer is "the ingenious man." This broad definition brings all characteristically energetic, able men into the category of engineers. When a man is said to have engineered a deal it is understood he obtained his own way after the exercise of considerable ingenuity. There are to-day many foolish persons who display a silly affectation in assuming the title of engineer, such as social engineers, who are persons engaged in studying social conditions; advertising engineers, who are persons engaged in handling advertising on a large scale, etc., ad nauseum. Other words, equally, if not more, effective in conveying the intended meaning might be used, for the English language is very rich. To the writer and other men in the profession there are two definitions which exactly describe the engineer, and these definitions, if properly acknowledged, would break down the artificial lines of separation between the numerous "specialties" of engineering work which are
