Autochthonous

The “island mountain” of Uluru made me think of my all-time favorite English word:  “autochthonous”.

I love that “ch” right next to that “th”.  Sublime.

The Greek etymology literally means “self from the ground” and the word has two meanings.  The secondary, metaphorical definition is a thought that springs unbidden into one’s head.  A passing thought that comes out of nowhere.

The primary definition means indigenous or aboriginal, as if the natives of a particular place sprang up out of the land itself.