Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Himself

Him-self′

,
p
ron.
1.
An emphasized form of the third person masculine pronoun; – used as a subject usually with he;
as, he
himself
will bear the blame
; used alone in the predicate, either in the nominative or objective case;
as, it is
himself
who saved
himself
.
But he
himself
returned from the quarries.
Judges iii. 19.
David hid
himself
in the field.
1 Sam. xx. 24.
The Lord
himself
shall give you a sign.
Is. vii. 14.
Who gave
himself
for us, that he might . . . purify unto
himself
a peculiar people.
Titus ii. 14.
With shame remembers, while
himself
was one
Of the same herd,
himself
the same had done.
Denham.
Himself was formerly used instead of itself. See Note under
Him
.
It comprehendeth in
himself
all good.
Chaucer.
2.
One’s true or real character; one's natural temper and disposition; the state of being in one's right or sane mind (after unconsciousness, passion, delirium, or abasement);
as, the man has come to
himself
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Himself

HIMSELF'

, pron. In the nominative or objective case. [him and self.]
1.
He; but himself is more emphatical, or more expressive of distinct personality than he.
With shame remembers, while himself was one
Of the same herd, himself the same had done.
2.
When himself is added to he, or to a noun, it expresses discrimination of person with particular emphasis.
But he himself returned from the quarries. Judges 3.
But God himself is with us for our captain. 2 Chron.13.
3.
When used as the reciprocal pronoun, it is not usually emphatical.
David hid himself in the field. 1 Sam.20.
4.
It was formerly used as a substitute for neuter nouns; as high as heaven himself. [This use is now improper.]
5.
It is sometimes separated from he; as, he could not go himself, for he himself could not go.
6.
Himself is used to express the proper character, or natural temper and disposition of a person, after or in opposition to wandering of mind, irregularity, or devious conduct from derangement, passion or extraneous influence. We say, a man has come to himself, after delirious or extravagant behavior. Let the man alone; let him act himself.
By himself, alone; unaccompanied; sequestered.
He sits or studies by himself.
Ahab went one way by himself,and Obadiah went another way by himself. 1 Kings 18.

Definition 2024


Himself

Himself

See also: himself

English

Pronoun

Himself

  1. Alternative letter-case form of himself often used when referring to God or another important figure who is understood from context.

Anagrams

himself

himself

See also: Himself

English

Pronoun

himself (the third person singular, masculine, personal pronoun, reflexive form of he, Feminine herself, neuter (nonhuman) itself, neuter (human) himself, plural themselves)

  1. (reflexive) Him; the male object of a verb or preposition that also appears as the subject
    He injured himself.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 2, in The Celebrity:
      Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.
  2. (emphatic) He; used as an intensifier, often to emphasize that the referent is the exclusive participant in the predicate
    He was injured himself.
    • Bible, Isaiah vii. 14
      The Lord himself shall give you a sign.
    • 2014 June 21, Magician’s brain”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8892:
      The [Isaac] Newton that emerges from the [unpublished] manuscripts is far from the popular image of a rational practitioner of cold and pure reason. The architect of modern science was himself not very modern. He was obsessed with alchemy.
  3. (now archaic or nonstandard) The subject or non-reflexive object of a predicate; "he himself".
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.7:
      Yet it is that himselfe had been liberally gratified by his Unkle with militarie rewards, before ever he went to warres.
    • Sir John Denham (1614-1669)
      With shame remembers, while himself was one / Of the same herd, himself the same had done.
    • 1998, Kirk Jones, Waking Ned, Tomboy films
      Dennis: His glass is there and himself is in the toilet.
  4. Alternative spelling of Himself

Synonyms

See also

Translations

External links

  • himself in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • himself in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: being · day · through · #116: himself · go · how · long

Anagrams