'autothaumaturgist' originates from Greek elements 'auto-' and 'thaumaturgos', where 'auto-' meant 'self', 'thauma' meant 'wonder', and 'ergon' meant 'work'.

'autothaumaturgist' developed as a modern English compound based on Greek 'thaumaturgos' (θαυματουργός) > Latin/Medieval forms and English 'thaumaturge'/'thaumaturgist', with the productive prefix 'auto-' added in English to indicate 'self-'.

Initially related to the phrase 'worker of wonders' (thaumaturge), the compound evolved to denote specifically someone who performs or claims to perform wonders by their own power ('self-wonder-worker').