Self-love

Self-love
Self-love Self`-love`, n. The love of one's self; desire for personal happiness; tendency to seek one's own benefit or advantage. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Selfishness.

Usage: {Self-love}, {Selfishness}. The term self-love is used in a twofold sense: 1. It denotes that longing for good or for well-being which actuates the breasts of all, entering into and characterizing every special desire. In this sense it has no moral quality, being, from the nature of the case, neither good nor evil. 2. It is applied to a voluntary regard for the gratification of special desires. In this sense it is morally good or bad according as these desires are conformed to duty or opposed to it. Selfishness is always voluntary and always wrong, being that regard to our own interests, gratification, etc., which is sought or indulged at the expense, and to the injury, of others. ``So long as self-love does not degenerate into selfishness, it is quite compatible with true benevolence.'' --Fleming. ``Not only is the phrase self-love used as synonymous with the desire of happiness, but it is often confounded with the word selfishness, which certainly, in strict propriety, denotes a very different disposition of mind.'' --Slewart. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • self-love — self love, self esteem, *conceit, egotism, egoism, amour propre Analogous words: *pride, vanity, vainglory: complacency, self complacency, smugness, priggishness (see corresponding adjectives at COMPLACENT) Antonyms: self forgetfulness …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • self-love — [self′luv′] n. 1. love of oneself 2. regard for oneself and one s own interests …   English World dictionary

  • self-love — self′ love′ n. 1) the instinct or tendency to promote one s own welfare or well being 2) an excessive regard for one s own advantage and interests 3) conceit; vanity • Etymology: 1555–65 self′ lov′ing, adj …   From formal English to slang

  • SELF-LOVE — (Roget s Thesaurus II) Index self love noun egotism (2), egotist, snob adjective egotistic, snobbish, vain verb strut modesty …   English dictionary for students

  • self-love — self loving, adj. /self luv /, n. 1. the instinct by which one s actions are directed to the promotion of one s own welfare or well being, esp. an excessive regard for one s own advantage. 2. conceit; vanity. 3. narcissism (def. 2). [1555 65] * * …   Universalium

  • self-love — noun Date: 1563 love of self: a. conceit b. regard for one s own happiness or advantage • self loving adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • self-love — noun a) Regard for oneself, love of oneself. b) Excessive pride or vanity, over valuing the self …   Wiktionary

  • self-love — /sɛlf ˈlʌv/ (say self luv) noun 1. egotism; selfishness, narcissism. 2. the instinct by which one s actions are directed to the promotion of one s own welfare. 3. Philosophy the self respect that constitutes one s proper relation with oneself.… …  

  • self-love — (Roget s IV) n. Syn. vanity, conceit, self esteem; see arrogance , egotism …   English dictionary for students

  • self-love — n. 1 selfishness; self indulgence. 2 Philos. regard for one s own well being and happiness …   Useful english dictionary

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