alter-egotismn.
/ˌaltə(r)ˈɛɡətɪz(ə)m/, /ˌɔːltə(r)ˈɛɡətɪz(ə)m/, /ˌɒltə(r)ˈɛɡətɪz(ə)m/, /ˌaltə(r)ˈiːɡətɪz(ə)m/, /ˌɔːltə(r)ˈiːɡətɪz(ə)m/, /ˌɒltə(r)ˈiːɡətɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˌɔltərˈiɡəˌtɪz(ə)m/, /ˌɑltərˈiɡəˌtɪz(ə)m/, /ˌɔltərˈiɡoʊˌtɪz(ə)m/, /ˌɑltərˈiɡoʊˌtɪz(ə)m/ The identification of others with oneself; spec. (in later use) = alter-egoism n.
ΚΠ
1857 F. L. Olmsted Journey through Texas p. v A sort of alter-egotism in the book was unavoidable.
1904 J. S. Williams in Chicago Tribune 7 July 4/2 It is not..to be wondered at that the peroration of the ‘greatest of these’ was a sort of deification of him who had dubbed him ‘greatest of these’. It was almost as natural as self-appreciation. It was only alter-egotism after all.
1950 M. Samuel Gentleman & Jew vi. 66 All other forms of love being only alter-egotism, the projection into the loved one of one's own frustrated ambitions.
1998 Guardian 12 Nov. 8/5 In the final chapter, Henry Bech wins the Nobel Prize for literature, a flourish which the writer's detractors will view as the prime example of alter egotism.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1857