Narcissist
/ˈnɑːr.sɪ.sɪst/noun
A person with an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek myth: Narcissus was so entranced by his reflection that he wasted away, and the modern term was built from that legend to describe self-obsession.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek mythology
Greek
Narkissos
“The mythic youth Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
narkissos
“The narcissus flower; possibly named for its heavy, numbing scent, or linked to the mythic name.”
Late Latin
Latin
narcissus
“The narcissus flower.”
19th Century
English
narcissism
“Excessive self-admiration or self-love, coined from the mythic name Narcissus.”
19th Century
English
narcissist
“A person characterized by narcissism.”