autodidact

au•to•di•dact (aw-toh-DAHY-dakt)  n

Definition:
a person who has learned a subject without the benefit of a teacher or formal education; a self-taught person

autodidactic adjective; autodidactically adverb
Origin:
1748;  from Gk. autodidaktos , from autos "self" + didaktos "taught", pp. of didaskein "teach," from PIE base *dens- "wisdom, to teach, learn"

Related:
Related Words: didactic

Sentence Examples:
• Frye describes with accuracy, and shows much appreciation of fine scenery and architecture. His judgements in painting and sculpture are sincere, though often betraying the autodidact and amateur. -After Waterloo, Major W. E Frye

• For instance: if the narcissist talks to a psychologist, the narcissist first states emphatically that he never studied psychology. He then proceeds to make seemingly effortless use of obscure professional terms, thus demonstrating that he mastered the discipline all the same, as an autodidact - which proves that he is exceptionally intelligent or introspective. -Narcissistic And Psychopathic Leaders, Sam Vaknin

• Schoenberg is an autodidact, the lessons in composition from Alexander von Zemlinsky not affecting his future path-breaking propensities. -Ivory Apes and Peacocks, James Huneker

Sources: Dictionary.com, Online Etymology

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