Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “semi-automatic” come from?

semi-automatic (English) comes from English automatic, from French automatique, from French automate, from Ancient Greek αὐτόματον, from Ancient Greek αὐτόματος, from Ancient Greek μέμαα, from Ancient Greek μέμονα, from Proto-Indo-European memóne — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

semi-automatic (English): Partially automatic; Of a firearm that...

Definitions

  1. Partially automatic; Of a firearm that...

Ancestry of “semi-automatic”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishautomaticCapable of operating without external control or...
2Frenchautomatiqueautomatic
3Frenchautomateautomaton
4Ancient Greekαὐτόματον—
5Ancient Greekαὐτόματοςself-willed, unbidden; self-moving,...
6Ancient Greekμέμααto wish eagerly, strive, yearn, desire
7Ancient Greekμέμοναto be minded or inclined; to be eager; to hasten
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmemóneto think, to be mindful; to remember
9Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European men- →