Auto- | Meaning Of Prefix Auto- By Etymonline

AdvertisementRemove Ads

Want to remove ads? Log in to see fewer ads, and become a Premium Member to remove all ads.

Origin and history of auto-

auto-

word-forming element of Greek origin meaning "self, one's own, by oneself, of oneself" (and especially, from 1895, "automobile"), from Greek autos, reflexive pronoun, "self, same," which is of unknown origin. It also was a common word-forming element in ancient Greek, as in modern English, but very few of the old words have survived the interval.

In Greek, as a word-forming element, auto- had the sense of "self, one's own, of oneself ('independently'); of itself ('natural, native, not made'); just exactly; together with." Before a vowel, it became aut-; before an aspirate, auth-. In Greek it also was used as a prefix to proper names, as in automelinna "Melinna herself." The opposite prefix would be allo-.

also from 1895

Entries linking to auto-

autarchy(n.)

1660s, "absolute sovereignty," from Latinized form of Greek autarkhia, from autarkhein "to be an absolute ruler," from autos "self" (see auto-) + arkhein "to rule" (see archon).

autarky(n.)

1610s, "self-sufficiency," from Greek autarkeia "sufficiency in oneself, independence," from autarkēs "self-sufficient, having enough, independent of others" (also used of countries), from autos "self" (see auto-) + arkein "to ward off, keep off," also "to be strong enough, sufficient" (see archon). From a different Greek source than autarchy, and thus the distinct spelling. As a term in international economics, prominent late 1930s. Related: Autarkic.

• authentic
• autism
• autobiography
• autocar
• autochthon
• autoclave
• autocracy
• autocrat
• autodidactic
• auto-erotic
• auto-focus
• autogamy
• autogenetic
• autogenous
• autograph
• autoharp
• autoimmune
• autolatry
• See All Related Words (34)

Advertisement

Want to remove ads? Log in to see fewer ads, and become a Premium Member to remove all ads.

More to explore

authenticmid-14c., autentik, "authoritative, duly authorized" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French autentique "authentic; canonical" (13c., Modern French authentique) and directly from Medieval Latin authenticus, from Greek authentikos "original, genuine, principal," from authentes "onautocar"car which contains in itself a motor and a source of power," 1895, from auto- + car. Which is it to be? We observe that the London Times has lent the weight of its authority to the word "autocar," which it now prints without the significant inverted commas but with a hyphen, "aautochthon1640s, "one sprung from the soil he inhabits" (plural autochthones), from Latinized form of Greek autokhthon "aborigines, natives, primitive inhabitants," literally "sprung from the land itself," used of the Athenians and others who claimed descent from the Pelasgians, from autosnerf1955, in nerf bars, hot-rodder slang for "custom bumpers;" from slang verb in auto racing (1953) meaning "to nudge something...liteThe word Adjusto-Lite for portable electric lamps was opposed by the user of a trade mark Auto-lite registered before the...poleRacing sense of "inside pole-fence surrounding a course" is from 1851; hence pole position in auto racing (1904)....pitengine or other piece of machinery to allow workers to examine or repair it is attested by 1839; this later was extended in auto...cousinearly 13c., "a collateral blood relative more remote than a brother or sister" (mid-12c. as a surname), from Old French cosin "nephew; kinsman; cousin" (12c., Modern French cousin), from Latin consobrinus "cousin," originally "mother's sister's son," from assimilated form of com companymid-12c., "large group of people," from Old French compagnie "society, friendship, intimacy; body of soldiers" (12c.), from Late Latin companio, literally "bread fellow, messmate," from Latin com "with, together" (see com-) + panis "bread," from PIE root *pa- "to feed." Abbreviatmoon"heavenly body which revolves about the earth monthly," Middle English mone, from Old English mona, from Proto-Germanic *menon- (source also of Old Saxon and Old High German mano, Old Frisian mona, Old Norse mani, Danish maane, Dutch maan, German Mond, Gothic mena "moon"), from P

Share auto-

‘cite’Page URL:https://www.etymonline.com/word/auto-CopyHTML Link:<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/auto-">Etymology of auto- by etymonline</a>CopyAPA Style:Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of auto-. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/auto-CopyChicago Style:Harper Douglas, "Etymology of auto-," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed January 3, 2026, https://www.etymonline.com/word/auto-.CopyMLA Style:Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of auto-." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/auto-. Accessed 3 January, 2026.CopyIEEE Style:D. Harper. "Etymology of auto-." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/auto- (accessed January 3, 2026).CopyRemove AdsAdvertisement

Want to remove ads? Log in to see fewer ads, and become a Premium Member to remove all ads.

TrendingDictionary entries near auto-

• authorize
• authorship
• autism
• autistic
• auto
• auto-
• autobahn
• autobiography
• autocade
• autocar
• autochthon

AdvertisementClose

Want to remove ads? Log in to see fewer ads, and become a Premium Member to remove all ads.

Want to remove ads? Log in to see fewer ads, and become a Premium Member to remove all ads.

CloseABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ