preposition used with “autonomous”: “of ” vs “from”

Question

Two related questions here:

1. Is it proper to use the construct, “Administrative components are autonomous of/from the front-end components”?

2. If it is proper, which of these two prepositions works better?

Answer 1

This word is best used in an absolute sense, i.e. without specifying what the autonomous entity would depend on if it weren't autonomous. If you need a contrast, use "independent of" ("of" is better than "from"), as Nicholas recommends.

The word "autonomous" comes from Greek autos, "own, self", and nomos, "law". It means "having one's own laws": the fact that you cannot easily add whatever is opposed to "one's own laws" to this phrase may serve to illustrate why "autonomous" is traditionally used without modifiers, or so I believe.

Answer 2

Use independent of / from the front-end components

Or they are autonomous in respect to the the front-end components

Answer 3

Would it not be better to say 'work independently of...' ?

Answer 4

I don't think autonomous can be used like this at all. You would have to say "is autonomous relative to the front-end components" or "in relation to the front-end components".