'automatize' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'automatos', where 'autos' meant 'self' and 'matos' meant 'moving', combined with the verb-forming suffix '-ize' (from Greek '-izein' via Latin/French).

'automatize' developed by adding the suffix '-ize' to 'automatic' (from Greek 'automatos' → Late Latin/Old French 'automatique' → English 'automatic'), and eventually became the modern English verb 'automatize' (and its forms such as 'automatizing').

Initially related to the Greek idea of 'self-moving' (automatos), the sense evolved into 'make self-acting' or more generally 'make automatic', which is the current meaning.