auto-, aut-

A descriptive term for the study of the interactions of an individual organism or a single species with the living and nonliving components of its environment: "The students were encouraged to consider the autecological aspects of the natural environment that includes individual peculiarities and reactions of individual plant and animal species to their environmental conditions."

1. The ecology of an individual organism or species.
2. The study of the ecology of an individual plant or species; the opposite of synecology.

1. Idiopathic or functional vomiting.
2. Vomiting that is self-induced by provoking the gag reflex.
3. Vomiting induced by autosuggeston, as observed in certain mental patients.

Etymology: from 1340, "authoritative", from Old French autentique, from Medieval Latin authenticus, from Greek authentikos "original, genuine, principal". Authentic was something that had the authority of its original creator.

Originally from Greek authentikos, it was a derivative of the noun authentes, "doer, master", which was formed from autos, "self" and the base -hentes, "worker, doer, being".

The adjective's original meaning in English was "authoritative"; the modern sense "genuine" did not develop fully until the late 18th century.

1. Mental introversion in which the attention or interest is fastened on the patient's own ego; a self-centered mental state from which reality tends to be excluded.
2. A mental disorder characterized by severely abnormal developments of social interaction and verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
3. A tendency to view life in terms of one's own needs and desires.

Affected individuals may adhere to inflexible, nonfunctional rituals or routine. They may become upset with even trivial changes in their environment. They often have a limited range of interests but may become preoccupied with a narrow range of subjects or activities. They appear unable to understand others' feelings and often have poor eye contact with others.

Unpredictable mood swings may occur. Many demonstrate stereotypical motor mannerisms; such as, hand or finger flapping, body rocking, or dipping. The disorder is probably caused by organically based central nervous system dysfunction, especially in the ability to process social or emotional information or language.

Information about autism and autistic symptoms.

Someone whose self-interests are dominant and who wants to satisfy only his/her personal needs and desires.