self-sacrificialadj.
/ˌsɛlfsakrᵻˈfɪʃl/, U.S. /ˌsɛlfˌsækrəˈfɪʃəl/ Characterized by or practising self-sacrifice; = self-sacrificing adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > morally elevated quality > unselfishness > [adjective] > self-sacrificing
devotive1608
self-devoted1630
self-givinga1631
self-sacrificing1654
self-devoting1668
self-surrendering1668
self-devotional1837
self-sacrificial1842
sacrificial1890
society > faith > worship > sacrifice or a sacrifice > kinds of sacrifice > [adjective] > self-sacrificing
self-sacrificing1654
self-surrendering1668
self-sacrificial1842
1842 John Bull 22 Oct. 510/1 The tender heart of woman alone is capable of such a self-sacrificial proceeding.
1893 H. R. Reynolds in Life (1898) 473 Your self-sacrificial love to a great duty.
1938 C. L. Morgan Flashing Stream p. xvi The Pinerotic theory that a woman, to be entitled to our respect in the theatre, must, if she shares a man's bed, do so with a self-sacrificial reluctance.
1996 Canad. Geographic Jan. 83/1 The romantic notion of the Arctic is that it needs conquering by powerful, usually self-sacrificial males.
2011 Church Times 18 Nov. 14/4 The overwhelming majority of nurses and other health-care professionals are dedicated, caring individuals, whose practice..is often Christlike and self-sacrificial.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1842