Where does “autoharpist” come from?

autoharpist (English) comes from English autoharp, from English auto-, from English automatic, from French automatique, from French automate, from Ancient Greek αὐτόματον, from Ancient Greek αὐτόματος, from Ancient Greek μέμαα — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

autoharpist (English): Someone who plays the autoharp

Definitions

  1. Someone who plays the autoharp

Ancestry of “autoharpist”, step by step

autoharpist traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English autoharp

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishautoharpA string instrument having a series of chord bars...
2Englishauto-Regarding oneself; automatic; relating to cars or...
3EnglishautomaticCapable of operating without external control or...
4Frenchautomatiqueautomatic
5Frenchautomateautomaton
6Ancient Greekαὐτόματονaccident, mere chance
7Ancient Greekαὐτόματοςself-willed, unbidden; self-moving,...
8Ancient Greekμέμααto wish eagerly, strive, yearn, desire
9Ancient Greekμέμοναto be minded or inclined; to be eager; to hasten
10Proto-Indo-Europeanmemóneto think, to be mindful; to remember
11Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

via English ist

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishistA practitioner or supporter of an ism
2English-istAdded to words to form nouns denoting
3Old French-iste
4Latin-ista-ist; one who practises or believes
5Ancient Greek-ιστήςAlternative form of -τής; -ist
6Ancient Greek-τήςAppended to verbs to form agent nouns
7Proto-Hellenic-tās
Every word from Proto-Indo-European men-Every word from Proto-Indo-European memóneEvery word from Ancient Greek μέμονα