automatical
|au-to-mat-i-cal|
/ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkəl/
self-acting
Etymology
'automatical' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'automatos', where 'auto-' meant 'self' and '-matos' meant 'acting/ moving'.
'automatos' passed into Late Latin/Latin as 'automaticus' and then into English as 'automatic'; the adjectival form 'automatical' developed from 'automatic' with the suffix '-al'.
Initially, it meant 'self-acting' or 'self-moving', and over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'acting or operating by itself; automatic'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
acting or operating by itself or by a fixed mechanism; not done consciously.
The old clock had an automatical mechanism that kept perfect time without winding.
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Adjective 2
(Of a response or behavior) done without conscious thought; habitual or unthinking.
He gave an automatical nod whenever the topic came up.
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Last updated: 2025/11/26 20:38