ANTI Against, Opposite

Ms. Cornelius/English Vocabulary List 7

AUTO – SELF

AUTO, meaning self, was a common Greek root, but it took on added meaning in America in the late nineteenth century when it was applied to the new vehicle that could “move by itself”- the automobile [AUTO=self + MOB=to move].

Autocracy (aw tok’ ruh see) [AUTO=self + CRAT=to rule] Noun. Government by a single person. The country had become an autocracy under the Tsar’s rule and was ripe for revolt.

Autocrat (aw’ tuh krat) [AUTO=self + CRAT=to rule] Noun. An absolute ruler; a domineering, self-willed person. The people lost their power when the autocrat took over the country.

Autocratic (aw’ tuh krat’ ik) [AUTO=self + CRAT=to rule] Adjective. Ruling by oneself, domineering. The supervisor was autocratic accepting advice from no one.

Automatic (aw tuh ma’ tik) [AUTO=self + MAT=to act] Adjective. Operating by itself. The car has an automatic transmission.

Automation (aw tom’ uh shun) [AUTO=self + MAT=to act] Noun. A system using self- operating machines. When the factories began to use automation, many employees lost their jobs.

Automaton ( aw tom’ uh tun) [AUTO=self + MAT=to act] Noun. An apparatus that functions by itself; a robot. Also, a person who has lost all human qualities and acts mechanically. Because she had been stapling pages for so many hours, she felt like an automaton.

Automobile (aw tuh mō bēl) [AUTO=self = MOB=to move] Noun. A self-moving vehicle. The Model T was one of the first automobiles.

Autonomic (aw tuh nom’ ik) [AUTO=self + NOM=law] Adjective. Pertaining to the autonomic nervous system, which act according to its own laws rather than through voluntary control. It regulates the heart, digestive system, etc. The autonomic nervous system allows a person to continuing living while asleep.

Autonomous (aw ton’ uh mus) [AUTO=self + NOM=law] Adjective. Self-governing. Released from her parents’ control at eighteen, the young woman finally became autonomous.

Autonomy (aw ton’ uh me) [AUTO=self + NOM=law] Noun. The right of self-government. Many small nations are struggling for autonomy.

Autopsy (aw’ top sē) [AUTO=self + OP=sight] Noun. A seeing for oneself; an examination of a dead body to discover the cause of death. The autopsy revealed that the cause of death had been a heart attack.