self-expressionn.
/ˌsɛlfᵻkˈsprɛʃn/, /ˌsɛlfɛkˈsprɛʃn/, U.S. /ˌsɛlfɛkˈsprɛʃən/, /ˌsɛlfəkˈsprɛʃən/ The expression of one's feelings, thoughts, or ideas, esp. in the creative arts; (also) an instance of this.
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1653 W. Kaye Baptism without Bason 8 So many Scriptures are fulfilled in Mr. Baxters self-expressions, that herein he hath..calumniated the Ordinances of Jesus Christ.
1837 Belfast News-let. 25 Aug. The result is no certain index whatever of the real feelings of constituencies, supposing..public opinion to have a fair latitude of honest self-expression.
1892 Nation 7 Apr. 263/2 This doctrine of unbounded self-indulgence—or, as his [sc. Walt Whitman's] admirers would prefer to call it, self-expression.
a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 762 Perhaps in some form it [sc. the mind] is at the very heart of life, enabling us to understand..the novel self-expressions that are so often to be found.
1972 D. Wolf Foul! iii. 35 It was a moment for uninhibited self-expression. Connie let himself go in a dance that was his alone.
2013 Daily Tel. 31 July 18/4 Self-restraint was promoted above self-expression. It was frowned upon to spill your guts for public perusal.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1653