English

self-drive

From self- + drive, as a back-formation from self-driving.

Formed from self- + drive

Proto-Indo-European *selbʰ-

Proto-Germanic *selbaz ‘self’

Proto-Germanic *selba-

English self-

Proto-Indo-European *dʰreybʰ- ‘to drive’

Proto-Germanic *drībaną ‘to drive’

Proto-West Germanic *drīban ‘to drive’

Old English drīfan ‘to drive’

Middle English driven ‘to drive’

English drive

Today it means

verb To drive autonomously; (of a motor vehicle) to drive itself without a human operator, by means of sensors and computer technology.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / self-drive