What does the root word of autism mean?

The root word of "autism" is "autos", which comes from Ancient Greek. It means "self" or "one's own".

This root word is a hint at the core characteristic of autism, which is the intense focus on one's own internal world.

However, it's important to remember that "autism" is a complex neurodevelopmental condition, and the term's etymology is not a complete explanation of the experience of autistic people.