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amour-propre

[a-moor-praw-pruh]
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noun French.
  1. self-esteem; self-respect.
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Origin of amour-propre

literally, self-love
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for amour-propre

Historical Examples

  • His amour-propre, his long fidelity, his deep affection—all were outraged.

    A Spirit in Prison

    Robert Hichens

  • Then came that fatal 'amour-propre' that involved me originally in the pursuit, and I was silent.

    Arthur O'Leary

    Charles James Lever

  • Now, bashfulness is almost always a sure sign of amour-propre.

    The Silver Lining

    John Roussel

  • The wounds inflicted to his amour-propre by the Virginia Assembly were healing.

    Thomas Jefferson

    Gilbert Chinard

  • This wound to his amour-propre was compensated by the success of the last election.

    Thomas Jefferson

    Gilbert Chinard

British Dictionary definitions for amour-propre

amour-propre

noun
  1. self-respect
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for amour-propre

n.

1775, French, "sensitive self-love, self-esteem;" see amour and proper.

Vanity usually gives the meaning as well, &, if as well, then better. [Fowler]

The term was in Middle English as proper love "self-love."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper