self-flatteryn.
/ˌsɛl(f)ˈflat(ə)ri/, U.S. /ˌsɛl(f)ˈflædəri/ The action or practice of persuading oneself into a falsely high opinion of one's own achievements, powers, or influence; (also) an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > vainglory > [noun]
vainglorya1300
gloryc1340
vaingloriousness1542
self-glory1549
self-flattery1574
self-praise1586
self-exaltation1615
self-applause1625
self-exalting1634
self-glorying1646
self-attribution1649
self-gloriation1654
self-congratulation1655
self-gratulation1697
self-glorification?1800
vaingloriness1820
1574 A. Golding in tr. A. Marlorat Catholike Expos. Reuelation iii. f. 67 (margin) The selfe soothing or selfe flatterie of the Hypocrites.
1680 W. Allen Perswasive to Peace & Unity (ed. 2) 83 In danger of being betrayed into such a self-flattery.
1745 J. Mason Treat. Self-knowl. i. vii. 60 It is dangerous Self-Flattery to give soft and smoothing Names to Sins.
1842 H. E. Manning Serm. xiv. 191 It is only the vain self-flattery of the day to talk as if we had less need now of the daily service.
1882 Cent. Mag. Apr. 927/1 One of those people who..experience a delicious self-flattery in the celebration of the municipal grandeur.
1912 G. K. Chesterton Misc. of Men 60 If the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
1986 Times 14 Jan. 14/3 The speech..included attacks on censorship, self-flattery and the persecution of the peasants under Stalin.
2001 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 20 Sept. 61/2 Given human appetite for collective (and individual) self-flattery, it is unlikely that competing versions of the past..will ever disappear.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1574