Word: Autonomous
You Pronounce It: [aw-ton-uh-muh s]
Definition: adjective
1. Government. self-governing; independent; subject to its own laws only. pertaining to an autonomy, or a self-governing community.
2. having autonomy; not subject to control from outside; independent: a subsidiary that functioned as an autonomous unit.
3. Biology. existing and functioning as an independent organism. growing naturally or spontaneously, without cultivation.
Origin:1790-1800; < Greek autónomos with laws of one’s own, independent, equivalent to auto- auto-1+ nóm (os) law, custom + -os adj. suffix
I found it: While reading Carroll’s “Pomo Blues Stories from First Year Composition” when it states:
In the past, both might be seen as fairily stable, autonomous individuals drawing on skills within themselves, acting independently to teach and to produce original pieces of writing.
Works Cited:
Mrs. Lady Renaissance 