[au.tom.a.tism] n [F automatisme, fr. automate automaton, fr. L automaton] (1838) 1 a: the quality or state of being automatic b: an automatic action
2: the power or fact of moving or functioning without conscious control either independently of external stimuli (as in the beating of the heart) or under the influence of external stimuli (as in pupil dilation)
3: a theory that views the body as a machine and consciousness as a noncontrolling adjunct of the body
4: suspension of the conscious mind to release subconscious images "~ --the surrealist trend toward spontaneity and intuition --Elle" -- au.tom.a.tist n or adj