self-devotion

American  

[self-di-voh-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlf dɪˈvoʊ ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. intense devotion of oneself to an activity or to a field or profession, as art or science.

2. devotion of oneself to the care or service of another or others; self-sacrifice.

   Her self-devotion to her sick mother prevented her from finishing college.

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Other Word Forms

• self-devoted adjective
• self-devotedly adverb
• self-devotedness noun

Etymology

Origin of self-devotion

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

The lesser-known “vulnerable” variety of self-devotion afflicts more reserved, fragile individuals who may resemble the self-effacing and thin-skinned characters portrayed by Woody Allen in his films.

From Scientific American • Feb. 5, 2013

"No man in the world was ever so sincere and modest in his self-devotion," wrote Marie in her secret notebook.

From Time Magazine Archive

I never saw anything beautiful in them except the self-devotion of some few good women who shine as stars amongst the general blackness.

From Australian Pictures Drawn with Pen and Pencil by Willoughby, Howard

Such times of more than heroic self-devotion make large demands upon the vital energies.

From The Gospel According to St. Mark by Chadwick, G. A.

Control, My heart, that bitter first emotion; While men shall reverence the steadfast soul, The heart in silent self-devotion Breaking, the mild, heroic mien, Thou'lt need no prop of marble, Lamartine.

From Poems of James Russell Lowell With biographical sketch by Nathan Haskell Dole by Lowell, James Russell