ego

[ee-goh, eg-oh]

noun

plural

egos 

1. the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought.

2. Psychoanalysis.,  the part of the psychic apparatus that experiences and reacts to the outside world and thus mediates between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social and physical environment.

3. egotism; conceit; self-importance.

   Her ego becomes more unbearable each day.

4. self-esteem or self-image; feelings.

   Your criticism wounded his ego.

5. (often initial capital letter)

   1. the enduring and conscious element that knows experience.

   2. Scholasticism.,  the complete person comprising both body and soul.

6. Ethnology.,  a person who serves as the central reference point in the study of organizational and kinship relationships.

ego

/ ˈɛɡəʊ, ˈiːɡəʊ /

noun

1. the self of an individual person; the conscious subject

2. psychoanal the conscious mind, based on perception of the environment from birth onwards: responsible for modifying the antisocial instincts of the id and itself modified by the conscience (superego)

3. one's image of oneself; morale

   to boost one's ego

4. egotism; conceit

ego

1. The “I” or self of any person (ego is Latin for “I”). In psychological terms, the ego is the part of the psyche that experiences the outside world and reacts to it, coming between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social environment, represented by the superego.

The term ego is often used to mean personal pride and self-absorption: “Losing at chess doesn't do much for my ego.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ego¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from Latin: “I”; psychoanalytic term is translation of German (das) Ich “(the) I”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ego¹

C19: from Latin: I

Example Sentences

That play of masks—at once disclosing and disguising—animated Roth’s fictional alter egos, incarnations both intimate and inscrutable.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

By the way, they also confess to occasionally fibbing about “overqualificiations” to spare job applicants’ egos.

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She similarly told Perfect Magazine that the work can be considered “autofiction” and that an “alter ego” is singing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Are they driven by purpose — and still capable of doing the job — “or is it a personal ego thing or psychological thing?”

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In the book, 107 Days, the former vice-president wrote that Biden's decision to run again was a choice that shouldn't have "been left to an individual's ego, an individual's ambition".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• character 
• psyche