egoist

The word 'egoist' is a direct import from the French 'égoïste', which was itself formed in the 18th century. Its core component, 'ego', is the Latin first-person singular pronoun, meaning "I", which has been used in philosophical discourse since antiquity to represent the conscious self. The suffix '-ist', of Greek origin, is a prolific agent-noun ending. Therefore, the literal construction of an 'egoist' is "one who is concerned with the 'I' or self". This morphemic logic perfectly captures the modern meaning, describing an individual whose worldview and actions are centered on their own interests, reflecting the philosophical doctrine of egoism that elevates self-interest as a primary principle.

Structure: ego + ist - ego: Latin origin, meaning "I, myself". In this word, it functions as the root, conveying the core concept of the self. - ist: Greek origin via Latin, a suffix forming agent nouns, meaning "a person who practices or is concerned with something". In this word, it denotes a person associated with the root concept.