'self-forgetfulness' originates from the combination of 'self' and 'forgetfulness', where 'self' refers to one's own person and 'forgetfulness' means the act of forgetting.

'self-forgetfulness' evolved from the Old English word 'forgietan', which meant 'to lose the memory of'.

Initially, it meant 'to lose memory of oneself', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'being absorbed in something to the point of losing awareness of oneself'.