Ancient Greek word root · Mind & Feeling

auto-: self

auto- is an Ancient Greek root meaning “self”. Learn its variants and explore 11 connected words.

Meaning and variants

Meaning: self

Root forms: auto-, aut-

Source word: αὐτός — self

Word family and examples

• automatic

  working by itself with little or no direct human control

• automobile

  A type of motor vehicle designed to move on the ground under its own stored power and intended to carry a driver, a small number of additional passengers, and a very limited amount of other load.

• autonomy

  the right or condition of self-government

• autopsy

  A dissection performed on a cadaver to find possible cause(s) of death.

• autograph

  a signature, especially that of a celebrity

• autobiographical

  Of or relating to a person's life or an account of a person's life, as told by the subject.

• autocorrect

  To make an autocorrection; to correct something automatically.

• autocratic

  Of or pertaining to autocracy or to an autocrat; absolute; holding independent and arbitrary powers of government.

• autocracy

  A form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual.

• autocrat

  An absolute ruler with infinite power.

• autoplay

  Any software feature that plays (a video, a compact disc, etc.) automatically.

Root connections help with vocabulary recall. They are not a complete etymological history, and a spelling match alone does not prove a relationship.

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