'autarchical' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autarkhia'/'autarkhēs', where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'arkhē' meant 'rule' or 'government'.

'autarkhia' passed into Late Latin and Medieval Latin as 'autarchia', then into Middle English as 'autarchy' and later produced the adjectives 'autarchic' and 'autarchical' in modern English.

Initially it meant 'self-rule' or 'self-sufficiency', but over time its usage extended to include senses related to 'absolute or autocratic rule' as well as 'economic self-sufficiency'.