Automation
/ˌɔː.təˈmeɪ.ʃən/noun
The use of largely automatic equipment in a system of operation or production.
Did you know?The root 'auto-' comes from the Greek for 'self,' suggesting a magical idea of self-operating mechanisms, almost like ancient golems!
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
αὐτός (autós)
“self; oneself”
Middle French
French
automatique
“pertaining to self-movement or operation”
Late 19th Century
English
automation
“the technique of making a process operate automatically, particularly in factories”
20th Century
English
automation
“widespread adoption in manufacturing, symbolizing the fusion of technology with human labor.”