He derived it from the Greek word autós (αὐτός, meaning "self"), and used it to mean morbid self-admiration, referring to "autistic withdrawal of the patient to his fantasies, against which any influence from outside becomes an intolerable disturbance".
Derivouna da palabra grega autós (αὐτός, que significa 'un mesmo'), e usouna para definir a autoadmiración mórbida, referíndose a unha "retirada autista do paciente ás súas fantasías, contra a que calquera influencia do exterior se converte nunha perturbación intolerable".