self-reliance
UK: ˌself.rɪˈlaɪ.əns | US: ˌself.rɪˈlaɪ.əns
n. reliance on one's own powers, judgment, or resources; independence
The word "self-reliance" combines "self" (Old English self, meaning "one's own person") and "reliance" (from Old French relier, "to bind fast," derived from Latin religare, "to tie back"). The term emerged in the early 17th century, popularized by transcendentalist philosophy (e.g., Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay Self-Reliance), emphasizing individualism and trust in one's innate capabilities. The morphemes preserve their original meanings while merging to express a cohesive concept of autonomous dependence.
Emerson's essay Self-Reliance advocates for intellectual independence.
Financial self-reliance is crucial for long-term stability.
Her self-reliance shone through when she solved the problem alone.
The program teaches teenagers skills to foster self-reliance.
Cultural shifts toward self-reliance have reduced communal dependency.