selfishlyadv.
/ˈsɛlfᵻʃli/, U.S. /ˈsɛlfᵻʃli/ In a selfish manner; in a way which shows excessive regard for one's own advantage or welfare to the exclusion of consideration for others.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > self-interest > [adverb] > with selfishness
selfishly1645
1645 J. Bond Occasus Occidentalis 27 A man may be a Malignant to the publike, by being too selfishly zealous for his owne particular Parish, Towne, or Country.
1653 J. W. Mite to Treasury 7 May not those that act..selfishly, and unjustly, remember that when their day is done, they will go out as the snuff of a Candle.
1734 A. Pope Epist. to Arbuthnot 14 The Fop..Who can your Merit selfishly approve.
1766 G. Colman & D. Garrick Clandestine Marriage iv. 68 My felicity shall not selfishly be confined, but shall spread its influence to the whole circle of my friends.
1809 N. Pinkney Trav. South of France xii. 140 This King..who was never known to forget himself, and act otherwise than selfishly.
1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career xiv. 243 She had selfishly labored all winter for the sole purpose of gathering a harvest of praise.
1902 ‘M. Twain’ in Evening Gaz. (Burlington, Iowa) 19 Aug. 2/6 I am always reading immoral books on the sly, and then selfishly trying to prevent other people from having the same wicked good time.
1960 W. Conton African (1964) x. 143 I hoped anxiously, and entirely selfishly, that I might be chosen as first leader.
2009 P. Golding Real Healing, Real Awakening (2012) ii. 58 We may be teaching our children to be either over-giving to the point of burnout, or selfishly unaware of the needs of others.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1645