[ 'i:gəʊ , 'ɛ- ]
■ noun ( plural ~s )
1》 a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance.
2》 Psychoanalysis the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity. Compare with id and super~ .
3》 Philosophy (in metaphysics) a conscious thinking subject.
Derivatives
~less adjective
Origin
C19: from L., lit. 'I'.