auto English · revision 5036

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1899|origins=en automobile}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɔː.təʊ/, US /ˈɑː.t̬oʊ/, /ˈɔː.t̬oʊ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a shortening [[der|en|automobile]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) perhaps after French [[m|fr|auto]];^(OED 1989) French and German auto came about the same way.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A motor car: 1899 in American English, in the OED, Etymonline, Barnhart and MWU.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to travel by car, is from 1901 in MWU and 1909 in the OED.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989) As a short form of [[automatic]] it is from 1876 in MWU, now especially of a car's gearbox or a camera setting.^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023) In Indian English it is short for autorickshaw.^(Collins 2023) Rare clippings of autotype (1882) and autobiography (1940) also occur.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1876 – short for automatic.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1899 – a motor car.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1901 – verb, to go by car.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(chiefly US, informal)'' A [[car]]; an [[automobile]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Indian English)'' An [[autorickshaw]].^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Short for [[automatic]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[autocade]]

+ * [[autocide]]

+ * [[autoist]]

+ * [[automaker]]

+ * [[autoworker]]

+ * [[auto court]]

+ * [[auto racing]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[automobile]]

+ * [[automatic]]

+ * [[auto-]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different auto, from Spanish and Portuguese auto “act”, from Latin actus, is a short religious play performed in Spain and Portugal (1563 in MWU) and short for [[auto-da-fé]].^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}