in New England communities, "one of a board of officers chosen annually to manage various local concerns," 1640s, from select (adj.) + man (n.1). Related: Selectmen. ETD selectman (n.).2
proprietary name (IBM) of a popular type of advanced electric typewriter, 1961, from select (v.) + electric. ETD Selectric (n.).2
a name of the moon goddess, equivalent to Latin Luna, from Greek selēnē "the moon; name of the moon goddess," related to selas "light, brightness, bright flame, flash of an eye." This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *swel- (2) "to shine, beam" (source also of Sanskrit svargah "heaven," Lithuanian svilti "to singe," Old English swelan "to be burnt up," Middle Low German swelan "to smolder") and to be related to swelter and sultry. ETD Selene.2
Daughter of Hyperion and Theia, sister of Helios. Related: Selenian "of or pertaining to the moon as a world and its supposed inhabitants," 1660s. Another early word for "moon-man, supposed inhabitant of the moon" is selenite (1640s); Greek had selēnitai "moon-dwellers, the men in the moon" (Lucian). ETD Selene.3
type of precious stone, late 14c., from Latin selenites, from Greek selēnitēs "moonstone," literally "of the moon" (in lithos selēnitēs), from selēnē "moon" (see Selene). Said to be so called for its coloring or for its supposed waxing and waning with the moon. ETD selenite (n.).2
element name, Modern Latin, from Greek selēnē "moon" (see Selene). Named by Berzelius (1818), on analogy of tellurium, with which it had been at first confused, and which was named for the earth. Despite the -ium ending it is not a metal and a more appropriate name selenion has been proposed. Related: Selenic; selenide; selenious. ETD selenium (n.).2
"having the moon as the center," 1827; from seleno- combining form meaning "moon, of the moon," from Greek selēnē "moon" (see Selene) + -centric. ETD selenocentric (adj.).2
"student of the moon, one who occupies himself with study of the physiography of the moon," 1660s, from selenography "scientific study of the moon" (1640s), originally to map the landforms of it, from seleno-, combining form of Selene "moon" + -graphy. Selenograph "photograph of the surface of the moon" is by 1858. Related: Selenographic (by 1830 as a dictionary word); selenographical. ETD selenographer (n.).2
"turning toward the moon," 1883, from seleno-, combining form from Selene "moon," + -tropic, from Greek tropos "a turning," from trepein "to turn" (from PIE root *trep- "to turn"). Related: Selenotropism. ETD selenotropic (adj.).2
1803 (Seleucidan), in reference to dynasty founded in Syria 312 B.C.E. by Seleucus Nicator, Macedonian Greek general and later one of the successors of Alexander the Great. It lasted until the Roman conquest in 65 B.C.E. Earlier Seleucian (1715), though in Church history this tends to also refer to a 3c. sect led by Seleucus of Galatia. The Seleucidan Era, formerly a widespread local reckoning in the East (maintained by Syrian Christians) usually is dated to Sept. 1, 312 B.C.E. ETD Seleucid.2
word forming element indicating "oneself," also "automatic," from Old English use of self (pron.) in compounds, such as selfbana "suicide," selflice "self-love, pride, vanity, egotism," selfwill "free will." Middle English had self-witte "one's own knowledge and intelligence" (early 15c.). ETD self-.2
OED counts 13 such compounds in Old English. Middle English Compendium lists four, counting the self-will group as a whole. It re-emerges as a living word-forming element mid-16c., "probably to a great extent by imitation or reminiscence of Greek compounds in (auto-)," and formed a great many words in the pamphlet disputes of the 17c. ETD self-.3
Old English self, sylf (West Saxon), seolf (Anglian), "one's own person, -self; own, personal; same, identical," from Proto-Germanic *selbaz (source also of Old Norse sjalfr, Old Frisian self, Dutch zelf, Old High German selb, German selb, selbst, Gothic silba), Proto-Germanic *selbaz "self," from PIE *sel-bho-, suffixed form of root *s(w)e-, pronoun of the third person and reflexive (referring back to the subject of a sentence), also used in forms denoting the speaker's social group, "(we our-)selves" (see idiom). ETD self (pron., n., adj.).2
Its use as the second element in compounded reflexive pronouns (herself, etc.) was in Old English, from the original independent (and inflected) use of self following personal pronouns, as in ic selfa "myself," min selfes "of myself." With a merging of accusative, dative, and genitive cases. ETD self (pron., n., adj.).3
As a noun from c. 1200 as "the person or thing previously specified;" early 14c. as "a person in relation to that same person." G.M. Hopkins used selve as a verb, "become or cause to become a unique self" (1880) but its use seems to have been restricted to poets. ETD self (pron., n., adj.).4
"disregard of the self or self-interest," 1800; see self- + abandonment. Self-abandoned is attested from 1774; self-abandon (n.) is by 1872. ETD self-abandonment (n.).2
"humiliation proceeding from guilt, shame, or consciousness of unworthiness; degradation of oneself by one's own act," 1650s; see self- + abasement. ETD self-abasement (n.).2
"absorbed in one's own thoughts or pursuits," 1796, from self- + absorbed "engrossed mentally." Related: Self-absorption. ETD self-absorbed (adj.).2
c. 1600, "self-deception, abuse of one's own person or powers," from self- + abuse (n.). As a synonym for "masturbation," it is recorded from 1728; an earlier term was self-pollution (1620s). ETD self-abuse (n.).2
1740, "acting by itself;" see self- + acting (adj.). The mechanical sense of "contrived for superseding manipulation in the management of a machine" is by 1844. ETD self-acting (adj.).2
"realization or fulfillment of oneself," 1939, from self- + actualization. Popularized, though not coined, by U.S. psychologist and philosopher Abraham H. Maslow. ETD self-actualization (n.).2
by 1865, "addressed to oneself;" by 1880, of envelopes, "with the address written on it by the intended recipient" (often with stamped); see self- + address (v.). ETD self-addressed (adj.).2
"advancement of the self," in any sense, 1707; see self- + advancement. ETD self-advancement (n.).2
"tending to inflate its own importance," 1798, from self- + aggrandizing (see aggrandize). ETD self-aggrandizing (adj.).2
"analysis by or of oneself," 1860; see self- + analysis. ETD self-analysis (n.).2
"appointed or nominated by oneself," 1750, from self- + appointed. ETD self-appointed (adj.).2
"subsequent assembly of something bought in kit form" (furniture, etc.), by 1966; see self- + assembly. ETD self-assembly (n.).2
"given to asserting one's opinions, rights, or claims; putting oneself forward presumptuously," 1853, from self- + assertive. Related: Self-assertively; self-assertiveness. Self-asserting is attested by 1802; self-assertion is by 1798. ETD self-assertive (adj.).2
"feeling of confidence and security as to oneself," 1590s, from self- + assurance. ETD self-assurance (n.).2
"self-confident, feeling confident and assured as to oneself," 1711, from self- + assured. ETD self-assured (adj.).2
"condition of being aware of oneself," 1876, from self- + awareness. ETD self-awareness (n.).2
"aware of oneself," in a psychological sense, 1892, a back-formation from self-awareness, or else from self- + aware. ETD self-aware (adj.).2
"generated without aid of another," 1670s (Milton); see self- + begotten. ETD self-begotten (adj.).2
"censorship of oneself," by 1950; see self- + censorship. ETD self-censorship (n.).2
1670s, "fixed, stationary," from self- + center (v.). In reference to persons, "engrossed in the self, with little regard for others," it is recorded from 1783. ETD self-centered (adj.).2
"designed to keep itself clean automatically," 1898, from self- + present-participle of clean (v.). ETD self-cleaning (adj.).2
"satisfaction with oneself or one's opinions or conduct," 1680s; see self- + complacency. Related: Self-complacence (1748). ETD self-complacency (n.).2
"pleased with oneself, self-satisfied," 1760, back-formation from self-complacency or else from self- + complacent. Related: Self-complacently. ETD self-complacent (adj.).2
"vanity, overweening opinion of oneself," 1580s; see self- + conceit. Related: Self-conceited; self-conceitedness. ETD self-conceit (n.).2
also self concept, in psychology, "a person's idea of himself," 1921, from self + concept. ETD self-concept (n.).2
"according to one's own admission or confession," by 1788; see self- + confessed. Related: Self-confessedly. ETD self-confessed (adj.).2
"confident of one's powers or qualities," 1610s; see self- + confident. Related: self-confidently. ETD self-confident (adj.).2
"confidence of one's own judgment or ability, reliance on one's own powers without other aid," 1650s, a back-formation from self-confident, or else from self- + confidence. ETD self-confidence (n.).2
"state or fact of felicitating oneself," 1630s, from self- + congratulation. Related: Self-congratulations. ETD self-congratulation (n.).2
1680s, "aware of one's action or oneself," a word of the English Enlightenment (Locke was using it by 1690, along with self-consciousness "state of being aware of oneself, consciousness of one's own identity"), from self- + conscious. The morbid sense of "preoccupied with one's own personality, conscious of oneself as an object of observation to others" is attested by 1834 (J.S. Mill). Related: Self-consciously. ETD self-conscious (adj.).2
1590s, reserved, not sympathetic or communicative," from self- + contained (see contain). As "complete in itself," by 1828. ETD self-contained (adj.).2
"restraint of one's desires," 1711, from self- + control (n.). Coined by English moral philosopher Anthony Ashley-Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713). Related: Self-controlled; self-controlling. He also used self-command "that equanimity which enables one in any situation to be reasonable and prudent" (1690s). ETD self-control (n.).2
"criticism of oneself," 1780, from self- + criticism. First attested in George Eliot; communist party sense is attested from 1933. ETD self-criticism (n.).2
"deception concerning oneself, act of deceiving oneself," 1670s, from self- + deception. Also self-deceit (1670s). Related: Self-deceived. ETD self-deception (n.).2
1650s, "act of defending oneself," first in Hobbes, from self- + defense. In sports sense, first with reference to fencing (1728), then boxing and pugilism (1820s). ETD self-defense (n.).2
"deluded respecting oneself," 1766, from self- + deluded (see delude). Self-delusion is attested from 1630s. ETD self-deluded (adj.).2
"act of denying one's own wishes; refusal to satisfy one's own desires," 1640s, from self- + denial. ETD self-denial (n.).2
Related: Self-denier; self-denying (adj.) is by 1630s as "involving self-denial," also "characterized by or involving denial of one's self." ETD self-denial (n.).3
"fact or expression of disapproval of oneself," 1843; see self- + deprecation. ETD self-deprecation (n.).2
"marked by expressed disapproval of oneself," 1835, from self- + deprecating (see deprecate). ETD self-deprecating (adj.).2
"a lowering of the value of oneself," 1827; see self- + depreciation. Related: Self-depreciating. ETD self-depreciation (n.).2
in reference to things, "destroy itself automatically;" see self- + destruct, apparently first attested in the U.S. television series "Mission Impossible" (1966). Self-destructive "having the property of annulling itself" is recorded from 1650s, and self-destruction "destruction of oneself, suicide" is attested from 1580s; self-destroying (n.) is from 1610s. ETD self-destruct (v.).2
1680s, "determination of mind; determination by one's own will or powers without external influence," from self- + determination. The political sense, action of a people in deciding its statehood and form of government," is attested by 1911, popularized 1918 by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in reference to the settlement of World War I. The idea itself is from 19c., and Churchill compared Fichte's Selbst bestimmung. Related: Self-determined; self-determining. ETD self-determination (n.).2
"ability to restrain or guide or control oneself," 1690s; see self- + discipline (n.). Related: Self-disciplined. ETD self-discipline (n.).2
"educated by one's own efforts alone, without regular training," 1761, from self- + educated. ETD self-educated (adj.).2
"keeping out of sight or in the background," 1836, from self- + effacing (see efface). Self-effacement is recorded from 1838. ETD self-effacing (adj.).2
1650s, "good opinion of oneself," especially "a too high estimate of oneself," from self- + esteem (n.). Popularized by phrenology, which assigned it a "bump" (Spurzheim, 1815). Related: Self-estimation. ETD self-esteem (n.).2
"evident in itself without proof or reasoning; producing clear conviction upon a bare presentation to the mind," 1680s, from self- + evident. First in Locke's "Essay Concerning Human Understanding." In Jefferson's rough draft of the American Declaration of Independence (1776), the word is written, in Franklin's handwriting, in place of the stricken out phrase sacred and undeniable. Related: Self-evidently; self-evidence; self-evidencing (1650s). ETD self-evident (adj.).2
1640s, "scrutiny into one's own state, conduct, or motives," from self- + examination. By 1955 as "examination of one's own body for signs of illness." ETD self-examination (n.).2
"explaining itself, obvious, bearing its meaning on the surface," 1813, from self- + explanatory. Earlier was self-explained (1725). ETD self-explanatory (adj.).2
"one who or that which feeds itself" in any sense, 1877; see self- + feeder. Self-feeding (adj.), "keeping up a constant supply of anything in constant consumption" is attested from 1835. ETD self-feeder (n.).2
"exaltation of oneself," 1826, from self- + glorification. Earlier was self-gloriation (1670s). ETD self-glorification (n.).2
1734, of persons, "self-control;" 1798, of states, nations, provinces, cities, etc., "administration of its own affairs without outside direction or interference," from self- + government. Related: Self-governing (1680s); self-governed (1709 as an adjective, of persons, "marked by self-control"). ETD self-government (n.).2
"hatred of oneself," especially when contrasted with one's own ideal self, by 1670s; see self- + hatred. Self-hate (n.) is attested by 1947. ETD self-hatred (n.).2
late Old English sylfhele, applied to several plants held to have remarkable healing properties; see self- + heal (v.). So called for supposedly enabling one to heal without a physician's aid. ETD self-heal (n.).2
1831, "working for oneself without assistance from others," from self- + help (n.). Apparently coined by Carlyle. The British Self-Help Emigration Society is attested from 1887. ETD self-help (n.).2
"photograph taken by pointing the camera at oneself," by 2005, said to be in use by 2002, from self + -ie. ETD selfie (n.).2
1904 in psychology, "a conception of oneself" in relation to others; see self- + image (n.). ETD self-image (n.).2
"a sacrificing of oneself," now usually by fire, 1817; see self- + immolation. ETD self-immolation (n.).2
"having or showing an exaggerated estimation of one's own importance, pompously egotistical," 1728, from self- + important. Related: Self-importance (1728); self-importantly. ETD self-important (adj.).2
"taken voluntarily upon oneself," 1781, from self- + past-participle of impose. ETD self-imposed (adj.).2
"improvement of one's character, etc., by one's own efforts," 1745, from self- + improvement. ETD self-improvement (n.).2
"incrimination of oneself," 1892, from self- + incrimination. ETD self-incrimination (n.).2
"given to undue gratification of one's own passions, desires, etc.," 1791, a back-formation from self-indulgence or else from self- + indulgent. Related: Self-indulgently. ETD self-indulgent (adj.).2
"habit of undue gratification of one's own passions, desires, etc.," 1650s; see self- + indulgence. ETD self-indulgence (n.).2
"inflicted by or on oneself," 1784; see self- + inflict. Related: Self-infliction. ETD self-inflicted (adj.).2
"regard to or pursuit of private interest, advantage to oneself," 1640s, from self- + interest (n.). Especially "selfishness, pursuit of egotistical interests to the exclusion of regard for others." Related: Self-interested, "characterized by self-interest" (1650s); self-interestedness. ETD self-interest (n.).2
"wrapped up in oneself or one's thoughts," 1812, from self- + involved. ETD self-involved (adj.).2
"caring only for self; characteristic of one who cares only or chiefly for his own personal pleasure," 1630s, from self + -ish. It is common in Baxter and said by Bishop Hacket ("Scrinia Reserata," 1693) to have been coined by Presbyterians. 17c. synonyms included self-seeking (1620s), self-ended (1640s, from self-end, "personal or private object"), and self-ful (1650s). ETD selfish (adj.).2
Related: Selfishly; selfishness. Similar formations in German selbstisch, Swedish sjelfvisk, Danish selvisk. ETD selfish (adj.).3
"justification of oneself," 1650s, from self- + justification. ETD self-justification (n.).2
"having no regard to self, devoted to others' welfare or interest and not one's own," by 1821, from self + -less. Related: Selflessly; selflessness. ETD selfless (adj.).2
"the instinct or virtue which directs a person's actions to the promotion of his own welfare," 1560s; see self- + love (n.). In early use especially "love of oneself, particularity to oneself." ETD self-love (n.).2
1610s, "made by ones own actions or efforts," from self- + made. Self-made man is attested from 1826, American English; the notion is "having attained material success in life without extraneous advantages." ETD self-made (adj.).2
1980 (self-motivated is attested from 1949), "motivated by one's own interest or enthusiasm, without external influence," from self- + motivation. Related: Self-motivating; self-motivational. ETD self-motivation (n.).2
"faculty of the immediate introspection of the soul by itself," 1670s, from self- + perception. ETD self-perception (n.).2
"perfection of one's character or life," 1810, from self- + perfection. ETD self-perfection (n.).2
"pity on oneself," 1620s, from self- + pity (n.). Related: Self-pitying. ETD self-pity (n.).2
"a portrait of oneself, by oneself," 1821, from self- + portrait, translating German Selbstbildnis. ETD self-portrait (n.).2
"command of one's emotions or powers, presence of mind, calmness," 1734, from self- + possession (n.). Related: Self-possessed. Self-collected for "in command of one's emotions" is from 1711. ETD self-possession (n.).2
"preservation of oneself from destruction or injury," especially as an instinct or natural law, 1610s; see self- + preservation. ETD self-preservation (n.).2
"self-defense," 1706, from self- + protection. ETD self-protection (n.).2
"the making actual, by an exertion of will, that which lies dormant in one's soul; the fulfilment, by one's own effort, of the potential in one's soul," 1839, from self- + realization. ETD self-realization (n.).2
"consideration for oneself," 1590s, from self- + regard (n.). ETD self-regard (n.).2
"regulating itself," by 1792, from self- + present participle of regulate (v.). Related: Self-regulated; self-regulation. ETD self-regulating (adj.).2
"trusting to one's own powers," 1826; see self- + reliant. Self-dependent in the same sense is from 1670s ETD self-reliant (adj.).2
"reliance on one's own power and abilities," 1833 (J.S. Mill), from self- + reliance. Self-dependence, "reliance on oneself, with a feeling of independence," is attested by 1759; self-dependent is from 1670s. ETD self-reliance (n.).2
"condemning of oneself," 1754; see self- + reproach (n.). Related: Self-reproaching; self-reproachingly. ETD self-reproach (n.).2
also self respect, "proper regard for and care of the dignity of one's person and character," 1795, from self- + respect (n.). Related: Self-respecting (1744). ETD self-respect (n.).2
"control imposed on oneself; self-command, self-control," 1754; see self- + restraint. Related: Self-restrained. ETD self-restraint (n.).2
"righteous in one's own esteem," 1670s, from self- + righteous. Related: Self-righteously; self-righteousness "reliance on one's supposed righteousness." ETD self-righteous (adj.).2
"sacrifice of what commonly constitutes the happiness of life for the sake of duty or higher motive," 1650s; see self + sacrifice (n.). Adjective self-sacrificed attested from 1711. Related: self-sacrificing. ETD self-sacrifice (n.).2