English Dictionary

SELFISHLY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does selfishly mean? 

SELFISHLY (adverb)
  The adverb SELFISHLY has 1 sense:

1. in an egotistical mannerplay

  Familiarity information: SELFISHLY used as an adverb is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


SELFISHLY (adverb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

In an egotistical manner

Synonyms:

egotistically; selfishly

Context example:

he behaved egotistically

Antonym:

unselfishly (in an unselfish manner)

Pertainym:

selfish (concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others)


 Context examples 


I know I did this selfishly, to have my name brought before her; but I tried to believe it was an act of justice to his memory.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Selfishly dear as she had long been to Lady Bertram, she could not be parted with willingly by her.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

On Sunday picnics at Shellmound Park and Schuetzen Park, in the past, he had rested his head on many laps, and, usually, he had slept soundly and selfishly while the girls shaded his face from the sun and looked down and loved him and wondered at his lordly carelessness of their love.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

And then it made me twenty times more wretched, to know how unselfishly mindful she was of me, and how selfishly mindful I was of myself.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

My duty to Agnes, who loved me with a love, which, if I disquieted, I wronged most selfishly and poorly, and could never restore; my matured assurance that I, who had worked out my own destiny, and won what I had impetuously set my heart on, had no right to murmur, and must bear; comprised what I felt and what I had learned.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
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