self-transcendence
|self-trans-cend-ence|
/ˌsɛlf.trænˈsɛndəns/
going beyond the self
Etymology
'self-transcendence' is a compound of the English element 'self' and the noun 'transcendence'. 'self' originates from Old English 'self', meaning 'one's own, same', and 'transcendence' ultimately comes from Latin 'transcendentia' (from 'transcendere').
'transcendence' derives from Latin 'transcendentia' (from the verb 'transcendere' composed of 'trans-' + 'scandere'/'cendere' meaning 'to climb' or 'to go beyond'), passed into Late Latin and Old/Middle French forms before entering modern English; combined with the native Old English element 'self' it produced the compound 'self-transcendence' in modern English usage.
Initially the root 'transcendere' meant 'to climb across or go beyond', and over time this evolved into 'transcendence' meaning 'the state of going beyond ordinary limits'; combined with 'self' it now denotes going beyond the self or ego.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the psychological or spiritual state of going beyond one's own ego, personal concerns, or individual limits to connect with others, a larger purpose, or a transcendent reality.
Meditation helped her experience a deep sense of self-transcendence.
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Noun 2
in positive psychology and well-being research, the tendency or capacity to find meaning by connecting to something greater than the self (e.g., community, nature, or the divine).
Researchers measured self-transcendence as a predictor of life satisfaction.
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Noun 3
in religious or philosophical contexts, the act or state of surpassing the boundaries of individual identity, often linked to mystical union or communion with the divine.
Many mystical traditions describe self-transcendence as a step toward union with the divine.
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Last updated: 2025/10/05 10:34