selfish

The word 'selfish' is a relatively modern English formation, appearing in the mid-17th century. It is constructed from the native English noun 'self', which has Germanic roots tracing back to Proto-Germanic selbaz, and the productive adjectival suffix '-ish'. The compound literally means "having the character of self," implying an excessive or exclusive focus on one's own identity and interests. This term emerged during a period of philosophical inquiry into human nature and ethics, lexicalizing the concept of an undesirable preoccupation with the individual ego at the expense of social or moral considerations.

Structure: self (one's own person) + ish (having the qualities of) self: Origin: Old English 'self', 'seolf', 'sylf'. Role: Root noun meaning "one's own person, the individual." ish: Origin: Old English '-isc'. Role: Adjective-forming suffix meaning "having the character or qualities of, belonging to."