a. [f. Gr. αὐτόνομ-ος making or having one’s own laws, independent (f. αὐτο- self, own + νόμος law) + -OUS.]
1. Of or pertaining to an autonomy.
1800. W. Taylor, in Month. Mag., VIII. 600. With an autocratic, not an autonomous, constitution.
1861. C. King, Antique Gems (1866), 237. The autonomous coins of Sybaris.
2. Possessed of autonomy, self-governing, independent. In Metaph.: see AUTONOMY 1 c.
1804. W. Taylor, in Ann. Rev., II. 244. If the [Irish] nation was to become autonomous.
1857. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann. (1863), I. II. i. 313. The autonomous Greek cities in Asia Minor.
1868. Bain, Mental & Mor. Sci., 736. The absolutely good Will must be autonomous—i.e., without any kind of motive or interest.
3. Biol. a. Conforming to its own laws only, and not subject to higher ones. b. Independent, i.e., not a mere form or state of some other organism.
1861. H. Macmillan, Footn. Page Nat., 158. Some of these productions may not be autonomous, some may seem to pass into each other by intermediate forms.
1881. Syd. Soc. Lex., s.v. Autonomy, Anatomy and physiology are autonomous, since the phenomena presented by animals and plants are not at present referable to chemical, physical, or other laws.
1882. T. Dyer, in Nature, 23 Feb., 391. The view that they [lichens] are autonomous organisms.
