[1835–45; ‹ Gk autoschedíasma, deriv., with (-s)ma resultative n. suffix, of autoschediázein to extemporize, v. deriv. of autoschédios hand-to-hand, offhand, improvised, equiv. to auto- auto-1 + schédios near, casual, offhand, deriv. of schedón (adv.) near, close by, akin to échein to hold, possess]This word is first recorded in the period 1835–45. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: daisy chain, ecumenical, faceplate, placement, squeegeeauto- is a combining form meaning “self,” “same,” “spontaneous,” used in the formationof compound words. Other words that use the affix auto- include: autochthon, autocrat, autoignition, automotive, autonomous