In the history of computing, the term computer is derived from which classical language word meaning to calculate or to count?

Introduction / Context:
Questions about the origin of the word computer are common in general knowledge and computer awareness exams. Understanding the etymology of the term helps students connect modern digital machines with the older concept of manual computation. Historically, a computer was a person who performed calculations, and the term comes from a classical language that reflected this counting role.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks from which language the word computer is derived.
• The options mention Latin, Sanskrit, Greek, German and French.
• The clue is that the original word meant to calculate or to count.
• We assume standard historical and linguistic references used in computer history chapters.

Concept / Approach:
The modern English word computer comes from the Latin word computare. Computare means to calculate, to count or to sum up. In earlier centuries, a computer was a person who did calculations by hand, especially in scientific and financial work. As machines were developed to automate these operations, the term computer gradually shifted from describing people to describing the machines themselves. Therefore, the language of origin is Latin, not Sanskrit, Greek, German or French.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that many technical English words, especially in science and mathematics, have Latin or Greek roots. Step 2: The word computer relates to computation and counting, which is linked to the Latin verb computare. Step 3: Computare combines com, meaning together, and putare, meaning to reckon or to think, giving the sense of calculating or computing. Step 4: Historical dictionaries record that in English, a computer originally referred to a human calculator before being applied to digital machines. Step 5: Sanskrit, Greek, German and French have contributed many words to English, but standard computer history texts specifically mention a Latin origin for computer. Step 6: Therefore, among the options provided, Latin language is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Computer history books and encyclopedias often include a note that the word computer is derived from the Latin word computare, meaning to calculate. They explain that during the early twentieth century, human computers carried out complex mathematical tasks for astronomy, engineering and finance. As electronic machines replaced human calculators, the term computer naturally shifted to these devices. Linguistic references confirm the Latin origin and do not attribute the word to Sanskrit, Greek, German or French.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sanskrit is an ancient language with many mathematical and scientific contributions, but the English term computer is not derived from any Sanskrit word. Greek has given English many scientific prefixes and suffixes, such as micro and tele, but again the specific term computer is traced to Latin, not Greek. German and French have strongly influenced modern English vocabulary, especially in philosophy and law, but they are not the root language for the word computer in standard etymology references.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students guess Greek because they associate classical learning with Greek philosophers, while others guess German due to the strong history of engineering and physics in German speaking countries. To avoid confusion, remember that the key clue is the Latin verb computare, which directly resembles both compute and computer. Recognising this similarity helps fix the correct answer in memory for exam purposes.

Final Answer:
The term computer is derived from the Latin language, from the word computare meaning to calculate.