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au·tom·a·ton

(ô-tŏmə-tŏn′, -tən)

n. pl. au·tom·a·tonsor au·tom·a·ta (-tə)

1. A machine or mechanism that operates without human intervention, especially a robot.

2. One who behaves or responds in a mechanical way.

[Latin, self-operating machine, from Greek, from neuter of automatos, self-acting; see AUTOMATIC.]

au·toma·tous adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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