dots-menu
×

Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class VI. Words Relating to the Sentient and Moral Powers
Section IV. Moral Affections
3. Moral Conditions

943. Selfishness.

   NOUN:SELFISHNESS &c. adj.; self-love, self-indulgence, self-worship, self-seeking, self-interest; egotism, egoism; amour propre [F.] (vanity) [See Vanity]; nepotism; charity that begins at home.
  worldliness &c. adj.; world wisdom.
  illiberality; meanness &c. adj.
  SELF-SEEKER, timeserver, time-pleaser, tuft-hunter, fortune hunter; jobber, worldling; egotist, egoist, monopolist, nepotist; dog in the manger, canis in præsepi [L.], “foes to nobleness,” temporizer, hyphenate [cant], trimmer; hog, road-hog, end-seat hog [colloq.].
   VERB:BE SELFISH &c. adj.; please -, indulge -, pamper -, coddle- oneself; consult one’s own -wishes, – pleasure; look after one’s own interest; feather one’s nest; take care of number one, have an eye to the main chance, know on which side one’s bread is buttered; give an inch and take an ell.
   ADJECTIVE:SELFISH, self-seeking, self-indulgent, self-interested; wrapt up in self, centered in self; egotistic or egotistical, egoistic or egoistical.
  ILLIBERAL, mean, ungenerous, narrow-minded; mercenary, venal; covetous [See Parsimony].
  WORLDLY, unspiritual, earthly, earthly-minded, mundane, worldly-minded, worldly-wise; timeserving.
  interested; alieni appetens sui profusus [Sallust].
   ADVERB:UNGENEROUSLY &c. adj.; to gain some private ends, from selfish motives, from interested motives.
   QUOTATIONS:
  1. Après nous le déluge.
  2. The fine Felicity and flower of wickedness.—Browning
  3. I to myself am dearer than a friend.—Two Gentlemen
  4. The wretch, concentred all in self.—Scott