Narcissism
/nɑːrˈsɪs.ɪ.zəm/noun
Excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance.
Did you know?The term 'narcissism' stems from the myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection, leading to his tragic demise—a dark warning about self-obsession.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Νάρκισσος (Nárkissos)
“The name of a youth who fell in love with his own reflection.”
19th Century
French
narcissisme
“Coined to describe an obsession with oneself, rooted in the myth of Narcissus.”
20th Century
English
narcissism
“Adopted into English to denote a psychological condition characterized by self-centeredness.”
20th Century
English
narcissistic
“Relating to or characterized by narcissism, often used in psychological diagnoses.”
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