automatum

Forms

automatum n (genitive automatī); second declension^[1] Also written automaton.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek αὐτόματον (autómaton, “automaton”),^[2][3][1] the neuter of αὐτόματος (autómatos, “self-moving, self-willed”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Petronius uses it of an automatic contrivance in the Satyricon.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Petronius also uses the plural, apparently, for automatic or puppet-like movements.^[2] Suetonius has it for an automaton,^[5][4] and Servius uses the form as an adjective meaning spontaneous.^[5]

In the Middle Ages Albertus Magnus used it, translating Aristotle's Metaphysics, for what moves of itself and for spontaneous movement.^[6]

Timeline

• before 66 AD – Petronius uses it of an automatic contrivance.^[2][4]
• c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of an automaton.^[5][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. An automaton, an automatic contrivance.^[2][5]
2. (plural) Automatic or puppet-like movements.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Something that moves of itself; spontaneous movement.^[6]

Related words

• English automaton

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Saalfeld, Günther Alexander (1874), Index Graecorum vocabulorum in linguam latinam translatorum, Berlin: Weidmann
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften