nar·cis·sism

[nahr-suh-siz-em]
noun
1.
inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity. Synonyms: self-centeredness, smugness, egocentrism.
2.
Psychoanalysis. erotic gratification derived from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes, being a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development.
Also, nar·cism [nahr-siz-uhm] .

Origin:
1815–25; < German Narzissismus. See narcissus, -ism

Related forms
nar·cis·sist, nar·cist, noun
nar·cis·sis·tic, nar·cis·tic, adjective
non·nar·cism, noun
non·nar·cis·sism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
narcissism or narcism (ˈnɑːsɪˌsɪzəm, ˈnɑːˌsɪzəm) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  an exceptional interest in or admiration for oneself, esp one's physical appearance
2.  sexual satisfaction derived from contemplation of one's own physical or mental endowments
 
[C19: from Narcissus]
 
narcism or narcism
 
—n
 
[C19: from Narcissus]
 
'narcissist or narcism
 
—n
 
narcis'sistic or narcism
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

narcissism
1905, from Ger. Narzissismus, coined 1899 by Ger. psychiatrist Paul Näcke (1851-1913) [in "Die sexuellen Perversitäten"], on a comparison first suggested 1898 by Havelock Ellis, from Gk. Narkissos, beautiful youth in mythology (Ovid, "Metamorphoses," iii.370) who fell in love with his own
reflection in a spring and was turned to the flower narcissus (q.v.).
But already Krishna, enamoured of himself, had resolved to experience lust for his own self; he manifested his own Nature in the cow-herd girls and enjoyed them." [Karapatri, "Lingopasana-rahasya," Siddhanta, II, 1941-2]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

narcissism nar·cis·sism (när'sĭ-sĭz'əm) or nar·cism (när'sĭz'əm)
n.

  1. Excessive love or admiration of oneself.

  2. Erotic pleasure derived from contemplation or admiration of one's own body or self, especially as a fixation on or a regression to an infantile stage of development.

nar'cis·sist n.
nar'cis·sis'tic adj.
nar'cis·sis'ti·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
narcissism [(nahr-suh-siz-uhm)]

A consuming self-absorption or self-love; a type of egotism. Narcissists constantly assess their appearance, desires, feelings, and abilities.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
It's an intriguing prospect, but ancient strains of greed, fear and narcissism
  have so far proven remarkably resilient.
The new study challenges a much-discussed 2007 paper that warned of a tide of
  crippling student narcissism.
Narcissism is more than a metaphorical term for self-absorption.
Your arrogant pride & brazen narcissism will be your downfall.
Related Words
self-love
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