Where does “autopilot” come from?
autopilot (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from English autopilot, 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,...
autopilot (Norwegian Nynorsk): an autopilot
Ancestry of “autopilot”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | autopilot | A mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system... |
| 2 | English | auto- | Regarding oneself; automatic; relating to cars or... |
| 3 | English | automatic | Capable of operating without external control or... |
| 4 | French | automatique | automatic |
| 5 | French | automate | automaton |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | αὐτόματον | — |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | αὐτόματος | self-willed, unbidden; self-moving,... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | μέμαα | to wish eagerly, strive, yearn, desire |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | μέμονα | to be minded or inclined; to be eager; to hasten |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | memóne | to think, to be mindful; to remember |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |