Robotical

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Of or pertaining to a robot or its mechanical nature ; done in a stiff, automatic manner without genuine emotion or awareness
2. Characteristic of or resembling a machine or automaton in structure or behavior ; performed in a routine, lifeless way devoid of personal warmth
3. Relating to mechanical or automated systems like robots ; marked by mechanical repetition or rigidity rather than natural spontaneity or feeling

Etymology: Isaac Asimov, the American science fiction writer, gave the world "robotic" in his 1941 short story "Liar!", and "robotical" is simply an older-sounding variant of the same adjective. Asimov's story was among the first to put the word in front of readers, and it set the pattern for how robots would be discussed in fiction from then on. The word is built from "robot" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ic", which turns a noun into a description of something having the qualities of that noun. So "robotical" and "robotic" both mean something like "pertaining to robots" or "robot-like", with the longer form "-ical" simply adding an extra syllable. Because the two forms mean the same thing, "robotical" is the less common choice today, and "robotic" is the form most readers will meet.

Synonyms: robotic, mechanical, automated

Antonyms: human