Egomania
/ˌiːɡoʊˈmeɪniə/noun
Excessive preoccupation with oneself and an exaggerated sense of self-importance.
Did you know?The suffix -mania originally described an overpowering frenzy or madness, not merely an enthusiastic interest, making egomania’s literal imagery far more intense than modern usage suggests.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*eǵh₂-
“I; the speaking self”
Ancient Greek
Greek
egṓ
“I”
Ancient Greek
Greek
manía
“madness, frenzy, or inspired excitement”
Classical Latin
Latin
ego
“I; the self as speaker”
1890s
English
egomania
“An excessive preoccupation with oneself, formed from ego plus mania”
Modern English
English
egomania
“Exaggerated self-importance or self-absorption”