Where does “automatism” come from?

Automatism derives from automaton, from Ancient Greek αὐτόματον, αὐτόματος meaning self-acting, from αὐτός meaning self.

automatism (English): Acting automatically or involuntarily; The power...

Definitions

  1. Acting automatically or involuntarily; The power...

Ancestry of “automatism”, step by step

automatism traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via French automatisme

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchautomatismeautomatism
2Frenchautomateautomaton
3Ancient Greekαὐτόματονaccident, mere chance
4Ancient Greekαὐτόματοςself-willed, unbidden; self-moving,...
5Ancient Greekμέμααto wish eagerly, strive, yearn, desire
6Ancient Greekμέμοναto be minded or inclined; to be eager; to hasten
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmemóneto think, to be mindful; to remember
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

via English automaton

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishautomatonA machine or robot designed to follow a precise...

Words derived from “automatism

Every word from Proto-Indo-European men-
automatism — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer