English
automatic
Automatic comes from New Latin automaticus, from Latin automatum ‘automaton’, from Ancient Greek αὐτόματος ‘self-acting’ (αὐτός ‘self’ + a stem of μέμαα ‘to be eager’).
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEαὐτόματοςautómatos‘self-moving, self-acting’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαὐτόματονautómatonneuter of αὐτόματος
- Classical Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEautomatum‘automaton’
- New Latinc. 1500–1900automaticus
- Englishearliest quotation 1923automatic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEαὐτόματοςautómatos‘self-moving, self-acting’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαὐτόματονautómatonneuter of αὐτόματος
- Classical Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEautomatum‘automaton’
- New Latinc. 1500–1900automaticus
- Englishearliest quotation 1923automatic
Earliest quotation: 1923, Ernest Bramah pseudonym; Ernest Brammah , (please specify the page): “But you know of the automatic card-player?" […] Carrados…”
A compound of αὐτός ‘self, myself’ + μέμαα ‘to wish eagerly, strive, yearn, desire’
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew ‘again, away from’
Ancient Greek αὐτός ‘self, myself’
The story
The original pronunciation, apparently with stress on the second syllable, was after the ultimate Greek base.
Every English word from Ancient Greek αὐτόματος
Today it means
adj Capable of operating without external control or intervention.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek αὐτόματος / automatic