# autism
## English
### Etymology

Borrowed from German Autismus, coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, first usage dated to 1907 attributed by Carl Jung as an alternative of his for "auto-erotism", although Bleuler himself differentiates the terms in his book Dementia Praecox, first published 1911. From Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós, “self”) + -ισμός (-ismós, “-ism”).

### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: ôʹtĭzəm, IPA: /ˈɔːtɪzəm/
* (cot–caught merger) IPA: /ˈɑtɪzəm/ (note that the /t/ is never flapped)
* Audio (US):(file)
* Audio (UK):(file)
* Hyphenation: aut‧ism

### Noun

autism (usually uncountable, plural autisms)
* (clinical psychology) A pervasive neurological condition that is observable in early childhood and persists throughout the lifespan, characterised by atypical communication patterns (e.g., differences in body language or eye contact), delayed language development, and sensory processing sensitivities.
** 2013 June 29, “A punch in the gut”, in The Economist‎, volume 407, number 8842, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-07-27, pages 72–3:Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.
** (loosely) Synonym of autism spectrum; a range of disorders.
* (clinical psychology, obsolete) A diagnosis involving a pathological tendency to engage in self-centered fantasy thinking, historically considered a symptom of insanity and/or schizophrenia.
* (Internet slang, offensive, derogatory or self-deprecatory) Abnormal and unhealthy focus or persistence, stereotypically coupled with low self-awareness and unhealthy hatred of opposition or criticism.
    weaponized autism

#### Synonyms

* (autism spectrum): autistic spectrum

#### Hypernyms

(the specific, instead of the generalized range):
* autism (the generalized range, instead of the specific)
* autism spectrum
* autistic spectrum
* autism spectrum disorder
* autistic spectrum disorder
* neurodivergence
* neurodiversity

#### Hyponyms

(autism spectrum):
* Asperger syndrome / Asperger's syndrome / Asperger's / Asperger
* autism (the specific, instead of the generalized form)

#### Coordinate terms

* on the spectrum

#### Derived terms

* atypical autism
* AuDHD
* autismal
* autismland
* autism spectrum
* autism spectrum condition
* autism spectrum disorder
* autist
* autistic
* autistic spectrum
* autistic spectrum disorder
* digital autism
* high-functioning autism
* low-functioning autism
* tautism
* 'tism
* virtual autism

#### See also

* pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), PDD-NOS
* disability, handicap
* mutism, selective mutism
* special education
* schizothymia
* schizoid personality disorder
* schizotypal personality disorder

### References

* ↑ Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung (1974) Ralph Manheim, R.F.C. Hull, transl., William McGuire, editor, The Freud/Jung Letters, 1st edition, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, →ISBN, 24j, pages 44-5:Bleuler still misses a clear definition of autoerotism and its specifically psychological effects. He has, however, accepted the concept for his Dem. pr. contribution to Aschaffenburg’s Handbook. He doesn't want to say autoerotism (for reasons we all know), but prefers “autism” or “ipsism.” I have already got accustomed to “autoerotism.”
* ↑ Paul Eugen Bleuler (1911) chapter 1, in Gustav Aschaffenburg, editor, Dementia Praecox oder Gruppe der Schizophrenien [Dementia Praecox or the Group of Schizophrenias]‎, Leipzig and Vienna: Franz Deuticke, archived from the original on 3 January 2022, B.α, page 52
* ↑ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “autism”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

### Anagrams

* Matsui, Tamsui, Tauism

## Estonian
### Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɑu̯ˈtism/, [ɑu̯ˈtʲisˑm̥]
* Rhymes: -ism
* Hyphenation: au‧tism

### Noun

autism (genitive autismi, partitive autismi)
* autism
    Synonyms: autismispektri häired, ASH

#### Declension
### References

* “autism”, in [PSV] Eesti keele põhisõnavara sõnastik [Dictionary of Estonian Basic Vocabulary] (in Estonian) (online version, not updated), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2014
* “autism”, in [EKSS] Eesti keele seletav sõnaraamat [Descriptive Dictionary of the Estonian Language] (in Estonian) (online version), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2009
* “autism”, in [ÕS] Eesti õigekeelsussõnaraamat ÕS 2018 [Estonian Spelling Dictionary] (in Estonian) (online version), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2018, →ISBN
* autism in Sõnaveeb (Eesti Keele Instituut)

## Romanian
### Etymology

Borrowed from French autisme.

### Noun

autism n (uncountable)
* autism

#### Declension
## Swedish
### Noun

autism c
* autism

#### Related terms

* autist
* autistisk

### References

* autism in Svensk ordbok (SO)
* autism in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)