autonomist
|au-ton-o-mist|
🇺🇸
/ɔːˈtɑnəmɪst/
🇬🇧
/ɔːˈtɒnəmɪst/
advocate of self-rule
Etymology
'autonomist' originates from English, formed by combining 'autonomy' + the agent-forming suffix '-ist'.
'autonomy' entered English via Middle French 'autonomie' and Medieval Latin 'autonomia', which in turn come from Greek 'autonomos' ('autos' meaning 'self' + 'nomos' meaning 'law'). The English agent noun 'autonomist' developed by adding '-ist' to 'autonomy'.
Initially the Greek root 'autonomos' meant 'self-legislating' or 'self-governing'; over time this developed into the modern sense of 'autonomy' and thus 'autonomist' as 'one who supports self-rule' in English.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who advocates or supports autonomy, self-government, or political independence for a region, group, or institution.
Many autonomists in the province called for greater control over local laws and taxes.
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Adjective 1
relating to or favoring autonomy; supporting self-government (used attributively, e.g., an autonomist movement).
They formed an autonomist movement to push for regional decision-making.
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Last updated: 2025/11/27 12:02