self-playing
|self-play-ing|
/ˌsɛlfˈpleɪ.ɪŋ/
operates or plays by itself
Etymology
'self-playing' is a modern compound formed from 'self' + the present participle 'playing'. 'self' comes from Old English 'self', meaning 'one's own' or 'by oneself'; 'play' comes from Old English 'plega'/'plegian', meaning 'exercise, amusement, sport'.
'self' remained relatively stable from Old English 'self' into Modern English as the reflexive/intensive element; 'play' developed from Old English 'plega'/'plegian' through Middle English 'playen' to Modern English 'play'. The compound 'self-playing' arose by combining these elements to describe something that 'plays by itself'.
Initially, 'self' meant 'one's own' and 'play' meant 'exercise or amusement'; the compound maintained the literal sense of 'playing by itself' and has been applied to instruments, toys, and devices that operate automatically.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
capable of performing music or playback automatically without a human player (e.g., a piano or instrument that plays itself).
The museum exhibited a self-playing piano that performed 19th-century pieces.
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Adjective 2
able to play by itself or to engage in play without direct human control (used for toys, devices, or systems that operate autonomously).
The new toy is self-playing and can entertain children without constant supervision.
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Last updated: 2025/12/12 07:37