Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “autistic” come from?

Autistic derives from English autism plus the English suffix -ic, where autism comes from English auto- combined with Latin -ista, ultimately from Ancient Greek αὐτός meaning self.

autistic (English): Having autism, or pertaining to autism; Socially...

Definitions

  1. Having autism, or pertaining to autism; Socially...

Ancestry of “autistic”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishautismA pervasive neurological condition that is...
2Frenchautismeautism
3GermanAutismusautism
4Ancient Greekαὐτόςαὐτή f, αὐτό n; "first/second declension";...
5Frenchmobilemobile; moving; movable
6Latinmōbilis—
7Latin-bilis-ble
8Proto-Italic-ðlis—
9Proto-Indo-European-dʰlis—
10Proto-Indo-European-dʰlomAlternative form of *-trom; instrumental suffix;...

Words derived from “autistic”

  • nonautistic
  • autistically
  • autie
  • unautistic
  • preautistic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -dʰlom →