autopathography
|au-to-path-og-ra-phy|
🇺🇸
/ˌɔːtoʊpəˈθɑːɡrəfi/
🇬🇧
/ˌɔːtəpəˈθɒɡrəfi/
writing about one's own illness
Etymology
'autopathography' originates from Greek elements: specifically 'autos' meaning 'self', 'pathos' meaning 'suffering, disease', and 'graphia' meaning 'writing'.
'autopathography' is a modern English formation combining the Greek roots 'autos' + 'pathos' + 'graphia' (literally 'self' + 'disease' + 'writing') and was coined in medical humanities and illness narrative literature in the 20th century.
Initially coined to denote 'writing about one's own disease,' the term has retained that core meaning and is used in literary, medical, and humanities contexts to describe illness-focused autobiographical writing.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a written personal account that focuses on the author's own illness, disease experience, or pathological condition; an illness-focused autobiographical narrative.
Her autopathography provided a vivid account of living with a chronic neurological disorder.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of autopathography; describing something as written in the mode of an autopathography.
The book adopts an autopathographic tone, blending medical detail with personal reflection.
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Adverb 1
in a manner characteristic of autopathography; in the style of a personal illness narrative.
He described his symptoms autopathographically, emphasizing subjective experience over clinical terminology.
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Last updated: 2025/11/27 14:08