Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Automaton
Au-tom′a-ton
,Noun.
pl. L.
Automata
, E. Automatons
. [L. fr. Gr. [GREEK], neut. of [GREEK] self-moving; [GREEK] self + a root ]
ma
, man
, to strive, think, cf. [GREEK] to strive. See Mean
, Verb.
I.
1.
Any thing or being regarded as having the power of spontaneous motion or action.
Huxley.
So great and admirable an
automaton
as the world. Boyle.
These living
automata
, human bodies. Boyle.
2.
A self-moving machine, or one which has its motive power within itself; – applied chiefly to machines which appear to imitate spontaneously the motions of living beings, such as men, birds, etc.