autopsy
UK[ˈɔːtɒpsi]US[ˈɔːtɑːpsi]
n
A medical examination of a dead body to discover the cause of death.
n
A detailed analysis or assessment of something, especially after it has failed or ended.
Morpheme Breakdown
auto
opsy
auto
self
opsy
sight/view
Etymology
The word 'autopsy' has a literal origin in the Greek phrase autopsia, meaning "a seeing with one's own eyes," from autos ("self") and opsis ("sight"). This term was originally used in a broad sense for personal observation or eyewitness testimony. In the 17th century, its application narrowed specifically to the medical examination of a corpse, reflecting the idea of a surgeon seeing the body's internal state firsthand to determine the cause of death. This semantic shift from general "self-seeing" to a specialized forensic procedure illustrates how a descriptive classical compound evolved into a precise modern scientific term.
Analysis
Structure: auto (self) + opsy (sight/view)
- auto: From Greek autos, meaning "self, same, by oneself." In this word, it functions as a prefix meaning "self."
- opsy: From Greek opsis, meaning "sight, view." In this word, it functions as a combining form meaning "act of seeing."
Examples
The coroner performed an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
The committee conducted a political autopsy on the failed election campaign.
A full autopsy report is expected to be released next week.