autism English · revision 10745

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=coinage|attested=1912|origins=de Autismus|origins=grc αὐτός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɔː.tɪ.zəm/, US /ˈɑː.tɪ.zəm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|de|Autismus]], coined in 1912 by the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from New Latin autismus,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Greek [[m|grc|αὐτός|tr=autós|t=self]] (see [[auto-]]) and [[-ism]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) The idea was of morbid self-absorption.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A condition of morbid self-absorption and withdrawal from reality, first a symptom of schizophrenia: 1912.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective ''autistic'' is also from 1912, its ending modelled on words like characteristic,^(Barnhart 1988) and the noun autistic from 1968.^(Barnhart 1988) Infantile autism became a separate diagnosis,^(AHD) and today autism is understood as a lifelong developmental condition affecting social communication and interaction.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1912 – autism; autistic (Bleuler).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1968 – an autistic (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A lifelong [[developmental]] condition that affects social [[communication]] and interaction, often with restricted or repetitive behaviour and interests.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD)

+ # ''(dated)'' Abnormal self-absorption and withdrawal from reality.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[autist]]

+ * [[autistically]]

+ * [[autistic]]

+ * [[infantile autism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[auto-]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}