emacs

E1M3A1C3S1
/ˈiːmæks/

noun

Any implementation or reimplementation of Emacs.

OriginEnglish macros ← Medieval Latin ēditor →
CommonScrabble 9
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Meanings

emacs1

nounemacs (plural emacses or emacsen)

plural emacses · plural emacsen

  1. computingAny implementation or reimplementation of Emacs.

Emacs2

proper noun
  1. computingA particular visual or WYSIWYG text editor (first written by Richard Stallman in 1975 but since reimplemented by others in several distinct versions), distinguished by its use of control characters as editing commands, by its lack of distinct "insert" and "edit" modes, and by its featurefulness and extensibility.

    "Emacs was initially a text editor," says Stallman, explaining the getup. "Eventually it became a way of life for many and a religion for some. We call this religion the Church of Emacs."

    2002, Sam Williams, quoting Richard Stallman, Free as in Freedom

eMacs3

noun
  1. pluralplural of eMac

Origin

  1. Medieval Latinēditor
  2. Englisheditor
  3. Englishmacros
  4. EnglishEmacs

Blend of editor + macros.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

emacs. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/emacs

MLA

“emacs.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/emacs. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “emacs,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/emacs.

Source: emacs on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.