autopsying
|au-top-sy-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈɔːtɑːpsiɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈɔːtɒpsiɪŋ/
(autopsy)
post-mortem examination
Etymology
'autopsy' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autopsia'/'autopsis', where 'aut-' meant 'self' and 'opsis' meant 'sight'.
'autopsy' passed into Late Latin as 'autopsia' and Old French as 'autopsie' before entering English (Middle English forms such as 'autopsie') and eventually becoming the modern English word 'autopsy'.
Initially it meant 'to see for oneself' (directly observe), but over time it came to mean specifically 'an examination of a dead body to determine cause of death'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present-participle form of 'autopsy': performing or carrying out an autopsy; examining a dead body to determine cause of death.
The forensic pathologist is autopsying the victim to determine the exact cause of death.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/28 04:36