self-denial

[ self-di-nahy-uhl, self- ]

noun

1. the sacrifice of one's own desires; unselfishness.
2. an act or instance of restraining or curbing one's desires:

   To reduce, one has to practice self-denial at the dinner table.

self-denial

noun

1. the denial or sacrifice of one's own desires

Derived Forms

• ˌself-deˈnying, adjective
• ˌself-deˈnyingly, adverb

Other Words From

• self-de·nying adjective
• self-de·nying·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-denial¹

First recorded in 1635–45