automaton

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“
He became a visitor to the "Man with the Rolling Eye," though I believe he used to call my automaton "The Sheik of Baalbec."

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Definitions (12)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun A self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot.
  2. noun One that behaves or responds in a mechanical way.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (7)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (2)

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Examples (50)

  • He did not approach Kelley, though; instead, he went to the place just within the threshold of the hall where the automaton was pinned down, and inspected the device as carefully as the thick strands of rope would permit, not without a certain anxiety. —  Asimov'sSF,July2008
  • To this automaton was the young Lady Georgiana consigned; and the marriage was, in the estimation of society, a splendid alliance. —  Beaux and Belles of England
  • With the unrelenting rhythm of an automaton, her other hand made regular trips between her mouth and a bag of Orville Redenbacher microwave popcorn. —  F ;SF; - vol 086 issue 05 - May 1994
  • We had been travelling together about two months; this was about the time I had fixed for the repair of the automaton, and my work was almost concluded. —  Memoirs of Robert-Houdin
  • The day at length arrived when I gave the last touch to the automaton, and made it perform before Torrini, who appeared delighted with it. —  Memoirs of Robert-Houdin
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin, self-operating machine, from Greek, from neuter of automatos, self-acting; see automatic.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Formerly also automatum, from Latin automaton, automatum, from Greek αὐτόματον, neuter of αὐτόματος, acting of one's self, self-moving, spontaneous, from αὐτός, self, + *ματός (later ματεύειν, seek, strive to do), verbal adjective of √*μα (perfect μέμαα), strive after, move.
 

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/ɔˈtɑmətɑn/
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