self denial (self denial)

The act of denying one's own wishes, or refusing to satisfy one's own desires, especially from a moral, religious, or altruistic motive; the forbearing to gratify one's own appetites or desires. Another occasion of reproach is that the gospel teaches mortification and self - denial in a very great degree. Watts , Works, I. 220. One secret act of self - denial , one sacrifice of inclination to duty, is worth all the mere good thoughts, warm feelings, pa ionate prayers, in which idle people indulge themselves. J. H. Newman , Parochial Sermons, i. 188. =Syn. Self -denial, Self -sacrifice, Austerity, Asceticism, self-abnegation, self-forgetfulne . The italicized words agree in representing the voluntary refusal or surrender of personal comfort or desires. Self - denial is to be presumed wise, nece ary, or benevolent, unle indication is given to the contrary; it may be the denial of selfish it may not only the refusal to take what Men had better own their ignorance than advance doctrines which are self - contradictory. Spectator. it may be an act, a habit, or a principle. Self -sacrifice goes beyond self - denial in nece arily including the idea of surrender, as of comfort, inclination, time, health, while being also presumably in the line of a real duty. The definition of austerity is implied in that of austere in the comparison under austere; it stands just at the edge that frame of mind which regards self-denial self-restraint. IMG:content-0542.png:[blocks in formation] A devout, humble, sin-abhorring, self - denying frame of spirit. South , Sermons. Self-denying Ordinance. See ordinance. self-denyingly (self-de-ni'ing-li), adv . In a self-denying manner. 5477 The sick man may be advertised that in the actions of repentance he separate low, temporal, sensual, and self from his thoughts. Jer. Taylor, Holy Dying, iv. 6. But all Self - ends and Int'rest set apart. Congreve, tr. of Ovid's Art of Love. a. Enamored of While self - dependent pow'r can time defy, As rocks resist the billows and the sky. Goldsmith, Des. Vil.