'self-sacrificing' originates from the combination of 'self' and 'sacrifice,' where 'sacrifice' comes from Latin 'sacrificium,' meaning 'an offering to a deity.'

'sacrificium' transformed into the Old French word 'sacrifice,' and eventually became the modern English word 'sacrifice.'

Initially, it meant 'an offering to a deity,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'giving up something for others.'