autobiography etymology

Etymology:

• auto- (Greek): self
• bio- (Greek): life
• -graphy (Greek): writing

Meaning:

An autobiography is a written account of a person's life, written by that person.

Origin:

The term "autobiography" was first coined in 1809 by the British physician and lexicographer Robert Southey. However, the practice of writing about one's own life has existed for centuries before.

Ancient Origins:

• Ancient Egypt: Autobiographical inscriptions were common on tombs and stelae, recounting the achievements and virtues of the deceased.
• Ancient Greece: Xenophon's "Anabasis" (4th century BCE) is one of the earliest known examples of a first-person account of a military expedition.
• Ancient Rome: Julius Caesar's "Commentarii de Bello Gallico" (58-50 BCE) is a classic example of a historical autobiography written by a military leader.

Middle Ages:

Autobiographical writing continued in various forms, including:

• Saints' Lives: Accounts of the lives of saints, often written by their followers.
• Medieval Chronicles: Autobiographical accounts of historical events by chroniclers and scribes.

Renaissance and Enlightenment:

During the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, the concept of autobiography as a literary genre began to take shape:

• Montaigne's "Essais" (1580): Personal and philosophical reflections that reveal much about Montaigne's life and character.
• John Bunyan's "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners" (1666): A spiritual autobiography that became a Puritan classic.
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Confessions" (1782): A radical and influential autobiography that exposed the author's inner thoughts and experiences.

19th and 20th Centuries:

Autobiography became a popular literary genre, with authors like:

• Frederick Douglass
• Mark Twain
• Helen Keller
• Maya Angelou

Today, autobiography continues to be a widely practiced and celebrated form of literature, allowing individuals to share their unique perspectives on the human experience.

autobiography relate terms

• biography

  Etymology From the Greek bios life and graphein to write Meaning A writt

• auto

  Etymology Auto comes from the Greek word auto meaning self Meaning Auto is a pr

• memory

  Etymology Latin Memoria Proto Indo European PIE smr̥ti Root smr̥ meaning to

• otherworldly

  Etymology Other adj from Old English oðer meaning different second World n

• story

  Etymology The word story comes from the Middle English word storie which in turn com

• trivia

  Etymology and Meaning The word trivia originates from the Latin word trivium which m

• file

  Etymology File originates from the Middle English word filen which itself derives fro

• lief

  Etymology Old English leof beloved dear Proto Germanic leubô Proto Indo Europ

• life

  Etymology The word life originates from the Old English word līf which is derived f

• memoir

  Etymology French mémoire memory Latin memoria remembrance Meaning A memo

• inspire

  Etymology From Middle English insipyre from Anglo Norman French inspirer from Latin i

• prophet

  Etymology Ancient Greek προφήτης prophētēs Latin propheta Meaning A