Narcissisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Excessive interest in oneself and one's appearance or importance is representative of a certain condition and behavior
2. a tendency to interpret events as being centered around one's own personal experiences and emotions is a hallmark of this psychological trait
3. a focus on self-admiration and a lack of empathy for others often characterizes individuals displaying this behavior

Etymology: "Narcissisms" is simply the plural of "narcissism," so the story belongs to the base word. That word traces back to Narcissus, the youth in Greek myth who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool and pined away beside it. The name was joined to the suffix "-ism," which turns a name or noun into a doctrine, condition or pattern of behaviour. The German form came first. It was originally "Narzissismus" in German, later shortened to "Narzissmus" by haplology, the dropping of a repeated syllable-like sound. English took the term from that German usage, so the English word is a relatively modern coinage built on a myth rather than an ancient Greek term.

Synonyms: self-love, egotism, self-absorption, vanity, self-centeredness

Antonyms: selflessness, humility, altruism, modesty, generosity