Where does “autoanswer” come from?

autoanswer (English) comes from English answer, from Middle English answere, from Old English andswaru, from Proto-West Germanic andaswaru, from Proto-Germanic andaswarō, from Proto-Germanic anda-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts — on, onto.

autoanswer (English): A feature of a telephone, modem, etc. that allows...

Definitions

  1. A feature of a telephone, modem, etc. that allows...

Ancestry of “autoanswer”, step by step

autoanswer traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English answer

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishanswerA response or reply; something said or done in...
2Middle EnglishanswereA response to a query or questioning; an...
3Old Englishandswaruanswer
4Proto-West Germanicandaswaruanswer, reply
5Proto-Germanicandaswarōanswer, reply
6Proto-Germanicanda-against, opposing; un-, de-
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntiopposite; near; in front
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

via English auto

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishautoClipping of automatic; An automobile; A setting...
2EnglishautomaticCapable of operating without external control or...
3Frenchautomatiqueautomatic
4Frenchautomateautomaton
5Ancient Greekαὐτόματονaccident, mere chance
6Ancient Greekαὐτόματοςself-willed, unbidden; self-moving,...
7Ancient Greekμέμααto wish eagerly, strive, yearn, desire
8Ancient Greekμέμοναto be minded or inclined; to be eager; to hasten
9Proto-Indo-Europeanmemóneto think, to be mindful; to remember
10Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en-