Au·tom·a·ton n.; pl. L. Automata E. Automatons
1. Any thing or being regarded as having the power of spontaneous motion or action.
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.
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