self-suˈfficient, a.
[self- 3 b; in sense 1 rendering Gr. αὐτάρκης.]
1. a. Sufficient in or for oneself (itself) without aid or support from outside; able to supply one's needs oneself. Not now of persons.
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie i. xii. 22 One God Almightie, euerlasting, and in euery respect selfe suffizant (autharcos). c 1645 Howell Lett. (1890) I. 41 A compleat self-sufficient Country, where there is rather a Superfluity than Defect of anything. 1702 S. Parker tr. Cicero's De Finibus iv. 228 Vertue, it seems, is Self-sufficient to render us as Happy as 'tis possible for us to be. a 1706 Evelyn Hist. Relig. (1850) I. 411 These books..[which] if they be not written by the dictate of the Holy Spirit,..St. Athanasius assures us are self-sufficient. a 1711 Ken Hymnarium Poet. Wks. II. 1 Thou self-originated Deity,..Thou Self-sufficient, by thy self didst reign. 1803 W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. I. 427 The proportion of paupers to self-sufficient persons, is larger in villages than in cities. 1869 F. W. Newman Misc. 184 Syria is a very self-sufficient region. 1897 tr. Fichte's Sci. Ethics 223 The truly free and self-sufficient Ego. 1899 W. R. Inge Christ. Myst. vii. 267 Physical science..while it keeps to its proper subject..is self-sufficient, and can receive nothing on external authority. |
b. spec. Of persons, groups, or nations: able to provide enough of a commodity (as food, oil) to supply one's own needs, without obtaining goods from elsewhere; self-reliant, self-supporting, independent. Freq. const. in.
| 1932 [implied at self-sufficiency 1 a]. 1955 K. A. H. Murray Agriculture iii. 40 For countries that are practically self-sufficient in their food requirements.., war or the threat of war may necessitate little or no change in agricultural effort or output. 1973 J. & S. Seymour Self-Sufficiency i. 10 More and more people, in all the highly industrial societies, are trying partially to opt out of the big-industry set-up and become less specialized and more self-sufficient. 1977 Undercurrents June–July 11/2 If we are to become self-sufficient in food production in Britain we are told that we must eat more grain and less meat. 1978 Lancs. Life July 54/2 He was soon back in the Lake District.., becoming self-sufficient through selling his paintings and wood sculptures, doing odd jobs and growing his own food. |
2. In an unfavourable sense: Having excessive confidence in oneself, one's powers, etc.; characterized by overweening or self-conceited opinion or behaviour.
| 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. II. ii. (1827) 96 Haughty and self-sufficient behaviour. 1824 R. C. Dallas Corr. Byron (1825) I. 51 Self-sufficient free-thinkers and witty sophs. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy vii, A self-sufficient jackanapes. |
Hence as n. (rare), one that is sufficient in itself (oneself); self-suˈfficientness = self-sufficiency 1 a.
| 1889 Lowell Let. to Mrs. Mitchell 9 Mar., [Philadelphia] was very sweet in its provincial valley of self-sufficientness and contentment. 1909 W. James Meaning of Truth xiv. 276 Mr. Russell, and also Mr. Hawtrey..seem to think that in our mouth also such terms..are self-sufficients with no context of varying relation that might be further asked about. 1926 I. Brown H. G. Wells iii. 43 They have the Cockney's superb self-mastery, his power to rise to an occasion... Bert Smallways in The War in the Air is another of these admirable self-sufficients. |
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Add: self-suˈfficiently adv.
| 1906 Somerville & ‘Ross’ Some Irish Yesterdays 81 There was a time, not long ago, when every self-respecting evening paper and most of the magazines had something sufficiently—or self-sufficiently—illuminating to say about Karma or the Mahatma. 1989 Newsday 5 May (Weekend Suppl.) 23/1 Bob Benner and his family are homesteading on the 14-acre farm, living self-sufficiently by growing their own vegetables and fruits and raising their own animals. |