amour propre

• amour-propre

Borrowed from French amour-propre.

amour propre (uncountable)

1. Self-regard, self-esteem.
   • 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 345:

     St Petersburg was endeavouring to restore its amour propre in Central Asia following the hurried departure of its mission from Afghanistan and the disappointing outcome of its recent war with Turkey.

   • 2001, Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections:

     How he hated and how he loved the lilt in her voice, the bounce in her step, the serenity of her amour propre!

   • 2010 November 11, Deborah Orr, The Guardian:

     You'd imagine a 26-year sentence for a brutal murder would be enough to assuage the amour-propre of any police force.