Word Origin & History
autarky1610s, "self-sufficiency," from Gk. autarkeia, from autarkes "self-sufficient, having enough, independent of others" (also used of countries), from autos "self" + arkein "to ward off, keep off," also "to be strong enough, sufficient," from PIE base *ark- "to hold, contain, guard" (see
EXPAND arcane). From a different Gk. source than
autarchy, and thus the spelling. As a term in international economics, prominent late 1930s.
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