autochthons
|au-to-chthon|
🇺🇸
/ˈɔːtəˌkθɑn/
🇬🇧
/ˈɔːtəˌkθɒn/
(autochthon)
born of the land; native
Etymology
'autochthon' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autókthōn', where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'khthōn' meant 'earth'.
'autochthon' passed into Late Latin/New Latin (as 'autochthonus') and entered English via scholarly and anthropological usage, becoming the modern English 'autochthon' (plural 'autochthons').
Initially it meant 'one sprung from the land itself' (literally earth-born), and over time it evolved into the broader sense 'original or indigenous inhabitant' used in anthropology, ecology, and literature.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
original or earliest inhabitants of a place; indigenous people.
The autochthons of the island have maintained distinct customs for centuries.
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Noun 2
in ecology or biology, species or organisms native to a particular place (not introduced).
Many autochthons in the lake were threatened by invasive fish species.
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Noun 3
in mythology or literature, a person believed to have sprung from the soil of a particular place.
Ancient myths often describe autochthons who sprang directly from the earth.
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Last updated: 2025/11/24 10:04