self-belief
UK[ˌself bɪˈliːf]US[ˌself bɪˈliːf]
n
confidence in your own abilities and judgment
Morpheme Breakdown
self
belief
self
own
belief
acceptance as true
Etymology
the word 'self-belief' is a modern english compound, formed by combining two native english elements. 'self' originates from old english 'self', 'seolf', 'sylf', meaning 'one's own person', a term of germanic origin with cognates across the germanic languages. 'belief' comes from old english 'geleafa', meaning 'faith, trust', which itself evolved from the proto-germanic verb stem ga-laubon, 'to believe'. the compound 'self-belief' emerged in the 19th century, logically constructing its meaning from the literal components: belief directed inward, toward one's own capabilities. it reflects a conceptual focus on individual psychology and personal confidence, distinct from belief in external entities.
Analysis
Structure: self (own) + belief (acceptance as true)
self (old english, reflexive pronoun) + belief (old english, noun-forming suffix from verb 'believe')
Examples
his unwavering self-belief carried him through the difficult negotiations.
a lack of self-belief can be the biggest obstacle to achieving your goals.
the coach's role is to instill self-belief in every member of the team.