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autism (n.)

1912, from German Autismus, coined 1912 by Swiss psychiatrist Paul Bleuler from Greek autos "self" (see auto-) + -ismos suffix of action or of state. The notion is of "morbid self-absorption."

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Definitions of autism from WordNet

autism (n.)
(psychiatry) an abnormal absorption with the self; marked by communication disorders and short attention span and inability to treat others as people;
From wordnet.princeton.edu