automaton

Where does the word "automaton" come from? It comes from Greek automatos, passing through Latin before entering English (1610s).

Automaton’s story begins in Greek: automatos meant “self-acting.” 'acting of itself'; Hero of Alexandria described self-moving devices in the first century. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as automaton. A self-moving machine. It reached English by 1610s as automaton. Clockwork automata became marvels of 1700s Europe. Today, automaton means a moving mechanical device that imitates a human or animal.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient automatos "self-acting", 'acting of itself'; Hero of Alexandria described self-moving devices in the first century.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient automaton "automaton", a self-moving machine.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1610s automaton "mechanical figure", clockwork automata became marvels of 1700s Europe.