automatic
UK: ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk | US: ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk
Definition
adj. operating by itself with little or no direct human control
adj. done or occurring spontaneously, without conscious thought
n. a machine or device capable of operating automatically
Structure
auto <self, from Greek *autos*>mat <think/act, from Greek *matos*>ic <adjective suffix>
Etymology
The word "automatic" traces back to Greek automatos ("acting of itself"), combining auto- ("self") and -matos ("thinking/acting"). The root matos is linked to menos ("mind, spirit"), reflecting the idea of self-directed action. Latin adopted it as automaticus, and by the 17th century, English used it to describe mechanical self-operation (e.g., clocks). The modern sense of "unconscious spontaneity" (e.g., "automatic response") emerged in the 19th century.
Examples
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