self-reˈspect
[In sense 1, self- 5 a, d; in senses 2 and 3, self- 1 d.]
† 1. A private, personal, or selfish end. (Chiefly pl.; cf. self-end.) Obs.
| 1613 Bp. Hall Serm. Wks. (1625) 468 Men; subiect to all passions, infirmities, self-respects. 1668 H. More Div. Dial. II. 30 Impartial Rectitude and Uprightness, without all Self-respects. 1675 Howe in H. Rogers Life (1863) v. 141 Have I not an undue design or self-respect in it? |
† 2. Self-love, self-conceit.
Obs.| 1657 M. Hawke Killing is M. Pref., Most men are transported with a philauty or self-respect, and have envious..ears, to hear ill reports of others. |
3. Proper regard for the dignity of one's person or one's position.
| 1795–1814 Wordsw. Excurs. vi. 353 To her guilty bowers Allured him, sunk so low in self-respect As there to linger. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 619 The fortitude of Monmouth was not that highest sort of fortitude which is derived from reflection and from selfrespect. 1873 F. Hall Mod. Engl. 363 Much too cheap for any person of proper self-respect to indulge in. 1881 Besant & Rice Chapl. Fleet i. vi, Things which, if left undone, would cause a gentlewoman to lose her self-respect. |
So
self-reˈspectful (hence
-reˈspectfulness),
self-reˈspecting ppl. a.| 1890 Academy XXXVIII. 192/2 His style, while firm.., is *self-respectful with that reticence which in manners we call breeding and in art distinction. |
| 1903 19th Cent. Dec. 1003 There was a dignity, a ‘*selfrespectfulness’ in her demeanour that was most impressive. |
| 1786 Burns Despondency iv, The lucky moment to improve, And just to stop, and just to move, With *self-respecting art. 1828 Sewell Oxford Prize Ess. 23 For the humiliation of habitual mendicity, it substituted an honourable and self-respecting industry. 1864 Burton Scot Abr. I. ii. 102 The well-becoming pride and self-respecting gravity. |