'self-denial' originates from the combination of 'self' and 'denial', where 'self' refers to one's own person and 'denial' means the refusal to satisfy one's own desires.

'self-denial' evolved from the Middle English word 'denial', which was influenced by the Old French 'denial', eventually forming the modern English term 'self-denial'.

Initially, it meant 'refusal to satisfy one's own desires', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.