AUTOCHTHONOUS

PRONUNCIATION:
(o-TOK-thuh-nuhs)


MEANING:
adjective:
1. Aboriginal; indigenous.
2. Formed or originating in the place where found.


ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek autochthon (of the land itself), from auto- (self) + chthon (earth, land). Ultimately from the Indo-European root dhghem- (earth), which also sprouted human, homicide, humble, homage, chamomile, exhume, inhume, chthonic, disinter, chameleonic, and Persian zamindar (landholder). Earliest documented use: 1804. The opposite of this term is allochthonous.

(Why does it look so familiar, even in this context?)