automobile English · revision 14910

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1883|origins=grc αὐτός, la moveō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɔː.tə.mə.biːl/, US /ˈɑː.t̬ə.moʊ.biːl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|automobile]], an adjective of 1861 and a noun of 1890,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) formed from [[m|fr|auto-|t=self]], from [[grc|αὐτός|tr=autós|t=self]] (see [[auto-]]), and [[m|fr|mobile|t=moving]], from [[la|mōbilis|t=movable]], from [[m|la|moveō|t=to move]] (see [[mobile]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) The French noun is short for [[m|fr|véhicule automobile]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Self-moving, as an adjective, of electric traction cars: 1883.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a self-propelled motor vehicle, is from 1895.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In its early years the French word competed with locomobile, and English had motorcar and autocar; an electric car was an electromobile (1899).^(Etymonline) The verb, to travel by car, is from 1898,^(OED 1989) as is automotive.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1883 – self-moving (adjective).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1895 – a motor vehicle.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1898 – to automobile (verb); automotive.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1899 – electromobile.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(chiefly US)'' A [[car]]: a self-propelled passenger vehicle, usually with four wheels and an [[internal-combustion engine]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to automobiles; [[automotive]].^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To travel or ride in an automobile.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[automobilist]]

+ * [[automobility]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[automatic]]

+ * [[automotive]]

+ * [[auto]]

+ * [[auto-]]

+ * [[mobile]]

+ * [[motorcar]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}