a combining form occurring in personal nouns corresponding to abstract nouns ending in -pathy, with the general sense “one practicing such a treatment” (osteopath) or “one suffering from such an ailment” (psychopath).
British Dictionary definitions for -path
-path
combining form
1.
denoting a person suffering from a specified disease or disorder: neuropath
2.
denoting a practitioner of a particular method of treatment: osteopath
Word Origin
back formation from -pathy
Word Origin and History for -path
word-forming element used in modern formations to mean "one suffering from" (a disease or condition), from Greek -pathes, from pathos "suffering" (see pathos). Also "one versed in" (a certain type of treatment), in which cases it is a back-formation from -pathy in the related sense.
-path in Medicine
-pathsuff.
A practitioner of a specified kind of medical treatment: naturopath.
One affected by a specified kind of disorder: sociopath.