Where does “self-acting” come from?

self-acting (English) comes from English acting, from English Act, from English actually, from English actual, from Middle English actual, from Anglo-Norman actuel, from Old French actual, from Latin actuālis — to drive.

self-acting (English): Acting of or by itself

Definitions

  1. Acting of or by itself

Ancestry of “self-acting”, step by step

self-acting traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English acting

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishactingTemporarily assuming the duties or authority of...
2EnglishAct
3EnglishactuallyIn act or in fact; really; in truth; positively;...
4Englishactualrelating to a person's acts or deeds; active,...
5Middle Englishactualactual, real, true
6Anglo-Normanactuel
7Old Frenchactual
8Latinactuālisactive, practical
9Latināctusmade, done, having been done
10Latinagōto act, to behave
11Proto-Italicagōdrive; push, impel; do, act
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éǵetito be driving
13Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive

via English Self

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSelfHimself, herself, itself, themself, themselves; that specific (person mentioned)
2Middle EnglishsalveAlternative form of sauf
3Old Englishsealfsalve
4Proto-West Germanicsalbusalve, ointment
5Proto-Germanicsalbōsalve, ointment
6Proto-Indo-Europeansolp-éh₂
7Proto-Indo-Europeanselp-fat, oil
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ-