October 04, 2012
narcissism (noun)
\NAHR-suh-siz-um\ Hear it!
What does it mean?
: excessive pride in oneself or one's appearance : egoism
How do you use it?
Coach expects his team members to support each other and will not put up with narcissism even from the best players.
Are you a word wiz?

You'll have reason to be proud if you can answer today's quiz. Where do you think the word "narcissism" comes from?

"Narcissism" traces to the name "Narcissus" in Greek mythology. According to the myth, Narcissus was a beautiful young man who attracted many admirers but rejected them all. One day, he caught sight of his reflection in a pool of water and became entranced. He was so captivated by his own beauty that he could not tear himself away from the sight. He stayed by the pool day after day and eventually wasted away. The gods turned his body into a flower now known as the narcissus (or daffodil). The story may have come from the ancient Greek superstition that it is unlucky to see your own reflection.
Archive RSS Feed