self-made（adj.）
1610年代，“通过个人行动或努力所形成的”，由 self- 和 made 组成。Self-made man 自1826年起被证明，是美国英语的术语，其概念是“在没有外部优势的情况下在生活中取得了物质上的成功”。
This expression, in the sense in which I here use it, is perhaps peculiar to our own country ; for it denotes a class of men to be found in no other part of the world. It is true, that in Europe there have been those, who, having a bent of the mind, or a genius, as it is called, for some particular employment, have by their own unassisted, persevering efforts, risen to eminence in their favorite pursuit. But the self-made men of our country differ much from these. Genius in them is sterling common senses ; and their object was not the gratification of the mind in some strong predilection for a favorite employment, but rather the attainment of those intellectual habits and resources, which might prepare them for usefulness, and give them influence and eminence among their fellow men. [Samuel P. Newman, "Address Delivered Before the Benevolent Society of Bowdoin College, Tuesday Evening, Sept. 5, 1826"]
在这里我所使用的这个概念，在其所发挥的意义上，可能只在我们自己的国家中具有特殊性质； 因为它指代了一群在世界其他地方找不到的人。的确，欧洲也有这样的人，他们之所以通过自己的不懈努力，在自己喜欢的工作上崭露头角，是因为他们心有所向，或者说是某个特定职业的天赋。但我们国家的自力更生的人与他们不同。在他们身上，天才是指有着坚实常识的能力; 他们的目标不是通过某种对喜爱职业的强烈偏爱来使自己得到满足，而是通过获得那些可能使他们具备影响力和地位，并为他们带来有用之处的智力习惯和资源。[塞缪尔•P•纽曼(Samuel P. Newman)，“在鲍因学院慈善协会于1826年9月5日星期二晚上发表的讲话”]
该词起源时间：1610年代