self-publishing
UK[ˌself ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ]US[ˌself ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ]
n
the act or process of publishing a book, magazine, etc. by the author, without using a traditional publishing company.
Morpheme Breakdown
self
publish
ing
self
own
publish
make public
ing
noun suffix
Etymology
The compound noun "self-publishing" is a modern formation built from established English elements. The core concept, "publish", originates from the Latin publicare, meaning "to make public," which entered English via Anglo-Norman. The reflexive prefix "self," of ancient Germanic origin, is attached to specify that the agent performing the act of making content public is the author themselves, rather than a separate commercial entity. The gerund suffix "-ing" nominalizes the entire phrase, turning the action into the name of the process or industry. Thus, the term logically constructs the idea of an author undertaking the entire publishing enterprise independently.
Analysis
Structure: self (own) + publish (make public) + ing (noun suffix)
self: Old English, from Proto-Germanic selbaz, meaning "self, same". Functions as a prefix indicating action by or for oneself.
publish: from Latin publicare (to make public), via Old French publier. The core verb meaning "to prepare and issue for public sale or distribution".
ing: Old English -ing, -ung, a suffix forming nouns from verbs, indicating an action or its result.
Examples
The rise of digital platforms has made self-publishing a viable option for many aspiring authors.
She chose self-publishing to maintain complete creative control over her novel.
His guide to self-publishing covers everything from editing to marketing.