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mat

Greek

willing, self-driven (the '-mat-' of automatic, automate)

Variants:matmatomatic
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About This Root

From Greek automatos (acting of its own will), built from auto- (self) + the -mat- element (linked to menos, 'mind, will, drive'). It survives in English only inside the automat- family: automatic, automate, automation. The look-alikes mate, mature, and stigma come from unrelated origins and are no longer grouped here.

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Associated Words · 5

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automatically

In a way that happens by itself or without thinking

automatic

Operating without human control; done without thinking

automation

The use of machines to perform tasks automatically

automate

To replace human labor with machines

automated

Operated by machines rather than people