"obstinate, unmindful of the will or wishes of others," late 15c., from self-wille "obstinate or perverse insistence on one's own desires or opinions" (mid-14c.); see self + will (n.). Old English selfwill, selfwyll meant "free will."

Self-willedness "quality or condition of being self-willed" is from mid-15c., though it is not certain whether "obstinacy" or "self-reliance" is implied.

Middle English also had an adjective self-willy (15c.), and the adverb self-willes is attested from late 12c. as "willingly, voluntarily;" late 14c. as "willfully, stubbornly."

"aware of oneself," in a psychological sense, 1892, a back-formation from self-awareness, or else from self- + aware.

"condition of being aware of oneself," 1876, from self- + awareness.

1590s, reserved, not sympathetic or communicative," from self- + contained (see contain). As "complete in itself," by 1828.

"absorbed in one's own thoughts or pursuits," 1796, from self- + absorbed "engrossed mentally." Related: Self-absorption.

1980 (self-motivated is attested from 1949), "motivated by one's own interest or enthusiasm, without external influence," from self- + motivation. Related: Self-motivating; self-motivational.

"a seeking after one's own benefit (before those of others), undue attention to one's self-interest," 1580s, from self + seeking, verbal noun from seek. As an adjective from 1620s.

"exaltation of oneself," 1826, from self- + glorification. Earlier was self-gloriation (1670s).

"faculty of the immediate introspection of the soul by itself," 1670s, from self- + perception.

"called by oneself," hence, "pretended, would-be," 1823, from self- + past participle of style (v.).