Automatic derives from Greek 'automatos' (self-moving), from 'autós' (self), a concept that dates to Homer's self-moving tripods in the Iliad.
Operating by itself with little or no direct human control; done or occurring spontaneously without conscious thought or intention. As a noun, a vehicle with automatic transmission or a firearm that fires continuously.
From Greek 'αὐτόματος' (automatos, self-moving, acting of itself), from 'αὐτός' (autós, self) + a derivative related to 'μέμαα' (memaa, to wish eagerly, to intend) or possibly 'μᾶσθαι' (masthai, to seek). The word 'automaton' entered English in the 17th century for self-moving mechanical devices; 'automatic' was formed from it in the 18th century. The original Greek word implied not just mechanical self-action but also spontaneous or voluntary motion. Key roots: αὐτός (autós) (Greek: "self"), αὐτόματος (automatos) (Greek: "self-moving, spontaneous").