selflessness

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈsɛlfləsnəs/ UK /ˈsɛlfləsnəs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the quality of caring more for others than for oneself

Her selflessness in caring for the sick won wide admiration.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the quality of caring more... altruism unselfishness generosityself-sacrificemagnanimity

Opposites

selfishness egoism self-interest

Word family

Related forms selfless self selfishness

Etymology

From 'selfless' (from 'self' + '-less') + '-ness'; 'self' is from Old English 'self', from Proto-Germanic *selbaz.

self Old English *selbaz Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# selflessness

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɛlfləsnəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɛlfləsnəs/

## Meanings
1. the quality of caring more for others than for oneself

## Examples
- Her selflessness in caring for the sick won wide admiration.

## Synonyms
- altruism
- unselfishness
- generosity
- self-sacrifice
- magnanimity

## Antonyms
- selfishness
- egoism
- self-interest

## Related Forms
- selfless
- self
- selfishness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: self
- Root: *selbaz

## Etymology
From 'selfless' (from 'self' + '-less') + '-ness'; 'self' is from Old English 'self', from Proto-Germanic *selbaz.

## AI Etymology
Selflessness comes from 'selfless' (from 'self' + '-less') + '-ness'; 'self' is from Old English 'self', from Proto-Germanic *selbaz. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a noun, it denotes "the quality of caring more for others than for oneself", keeping the historical idea close to its dictionary sense. Relevant historical forms include Old English self and Proto-Germanic *selbaz. Related words include selfless, self, selfishness.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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