Egoities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals possessing an inflated sense of self-importance and self-esteem; persons characterized by strong egocentrism or self-centeredness; beings exhibiting pronounced pride or vanity
2. Characters marked by excessive self-regard and pride in their identity; people demonstrating a dominant focus on their own needs and perspectives; entities showing notable self-admiration and often disregarding others
3. Beings with heightened self-awareness and a strong sense of personal identity coupled with arrogance; individuals whose self-interest and confidence overshadow humility; personalities dominated by self-focused attitudes and behaviors

Etymology: "Egoities" is the plural of "egoity," a noun formed from "ego" with the suffix "-ity," which turns an adjective or noun into an abstract quality. "Ego" is the Latin word for "I," and in English it entered philosophy and psychology as a term for the self. Adding "-ity" produced a word for the quality of being a distinct self, or in its later sense, a self-centred identity. The plural, "egoities," follows the same pattern as other nouns of quality, and it is used for individuals or groups who show that quality repeatedly. The word is a straightforward coinage in English rather than an inherited term, so its meaning rests on the two parts it is built from: the self, and the abstract quality attached to it.

Synonyms: egotists, selfish persons, narcissists

Antonyms: altruists, selfless persons