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1828.mshaffer.com › Word [self]
SELF, a. or pron. plu. selves; used chiefly in composition. 1. In old authors, this sometimes signifies particular, very, or same. "And on tham sylfan geare;" in that same year, that very year. Sax. Chron. A.D. 1052, 1061. Shoot another arrow that self way. Shak. On these self hills. Raleigh. At that self moment enters Palamon. Dryden. In this sense, self is an adjective, and is now obsolete, except when followed by same; as on the self-same day; the self-same hour; the self-same thing; which is tautology. 2. In present usage, selfis united to certain personal pronouns and pronominal adjectives, to express emphasis or distinction; also when the pronoun is used reciprocally. thus, for emphasis, I myself will write; I will examine for myself; Thou thyself shalt go; thou shalt see for thyself; You yourself shall write; you shall see for yourself. He himself shall write; he shall examine for himself. She herself shall write; she shall examine for herself. The child itself shall be carried; it shall be present itself. Reciprocally, I abhor myself; thou enrichest thyself; he loves himself; she admires herself; it pleases itself; we value ourselves; ye hurry yourselves; they see themselves. I did not hurt him, he hurt himself; he did not hurt me, I hurt myself. Except when added to pronouns used reciprocally, self serves to give emphasis to the pronoun, or to render the distinction expressed by it more emphatical. "I myself will decide," not only expresses my determination to decide, but the determination that no other shall decide.
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Evolution (or devolution) of this word [self]
1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
SELF, a. or pron. plu. selves; used chiefly in composition. 1. In old authors, this sometimes signifies particular, very, or same. "And on tham sylfan geare;" in that same year, that very year. Sax. Chron. A.D. 1052, 1061. Shoot another arrow that self way. Shak. On these self hills. Raleigh. At that self moment enters Palamon. Dryden. In this sense, self is an adjective, and is now obsolete, except when followed by same; as on the self-same day; the self-same hour; the self-same thing; which is tautology. 2. In present usage, selfis united to certain personal pronouns and pronominal adjectives, to express emphasis or distinction; also when the pronoun is used reciprocally. thus, for emphasis, I myself will write; I will examine for myself; Thou thyself shalt go; thou shalt see for thyself; You yourself shall write; you shall see for yourself. He himself shall write; he shall examine for himself. She herself shall write; she shall examine for herself. The child itself shall be carried; it shall be present itself. Reciprocally, I abhor myself; thou enrichest thyself; he loves himself; she admires herself; it pleases itself; we value ourselves; ye hurry yourselves; they see themselves. I did not hurt him, he hurt himself; he did not hurt me, I hurt myself. Except when added to pronouns used reciprocally, self serves to give emphasis to the pronoun, or to render the distinction expressed by it more emphatical. "I myself will decide," not only expresses my determination to decide, but the determination that no other shall decide. | SELF, a. [or pron. Plur. Selves; used chiefly in composition. Sax. self, sylf; Goth. silba; Sw. sielf; Dan. selv; G. selbst; D. zelf. I know not the primary sense of this word; most probably it is to set or unite, or to separate from others: See Selvedge.]- In old authors, this word sometimes signifies particular, very or same. “And on tham sylfan geare;” in that same Year, that very year. Sax. Chron. A. D. 1052, 1061.
Shoot another arrow that self way. – Shak.
On these self hills. – Ralegh.
At that self moment enters Palamon. – Dryden.
In this sense, self is an adjective, and is now obsolete, except when followed by same; as, on the self-same day; the self-same hour; the self-same thing; which to tautology. – Matth. viii.
- In present usage, self is united to certain personal pronouns and pronominal adjectives, to express emphasis or distinction; also when the pronoun is used reciprocally. Thus for emphasis, I myself will write; I will examine for myself. Thou thyself shalt go; thou shalt see for thyself. You yourself shall write; you shall see for yourself. He himself shall write; he shall examine for himself. She herself shall write; she shall examine for herself. The child itself shall be carried; it shall be present itself.
Reciprocally, I abhor myself; thou enrichest thyself; he loves himself; she admires herself; it pleases itself; we value ourselves; ye hurry yourselves; they see themselves. I did not hurt him, he hurt himself; he did not hurt me, I hurt myself.
Except when added to pronouns used reciprocally, self serves to give emphasis to the pronoun, or to render the distinction expressed by it more emphatical. "I myself will decide," not only expresses my determination to decide, but the determination that no other shall decide.
Himself, herself, themselves, are used in the nominative case, as well as in the objective.
Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples. – John iv. See Matth. xxiii, 4.
- Self is sometimes used as a noun, noting the individual subject to his own contemplation or action, or noting identity of person. Consciousness makes every one to be what he calls self.
A man's self may be the worst fellow to converse within / the world. – Pope.
- It also signifies personal interest, or love of private interest; selfishness.
The fondness we have for self … furnishes another long rank of prejudices. – Watts.
Self is much used in composition.
| Self
- Same; particular; very; identical.
- The individual
as the object of his own reflective consciousness; the man viewed by
his own cognition as the subject of all his mental phenomena, the
agent in his own activities, the subject of his own feelings, and the
possessor of capacities and character; a person as a distinct
individual; a being regarded as having personality.
- Having its own or a
single nature or character, as in color, composition, etc., without
addition or change; unmixed; as, a self bow, one made from a
single piece of wood; self flower or plant, one which is wholly
of one color; self-colored.
- Hence, personal interest, or love of
private interest; selfishness; as, self is his whole
aim.
- Personification; embodiment.
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1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
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Self SELF, adjective. or pron. plural selves; used chiefly in composition. 1. In old authors, this sometimes signifies particular, very, or same. 'And on tham sylfan geare; ' in that same year, that very year. Sax. Chron. adjective D. 1052, 1061. Shoot another arrow that self way. Shak. On these self hills. Raleigh. At that self moment enters Palamon. Dryden. In this sense, self is an adjective, and is now obsolete, except when followed by same; as on the self-same day; the self-same hour; the self-same thing; which is tautology. 2. In present usage, selfis united to certain personal pronouns and pronominal adjectives, to express emphasis or distinction; also when the pronoun is used reciprocally. thus, for emphasis, I myself will write; I will examine for myself; Thou thyself shalt go; thou shalt see for thyself; You yourself shall write; you shall see for yourself. He himself shall write; he shall examine for himself. She herself shall write; she shall examine for herself. The child itself shall be carried; it shall be present itself. Reciprocally, I abhor myself; thou enrichest thyself; he loves himself; she admires herself; it pleases itself; we value ourselves; ye hurry yourselves; they see themselves. I did not hurt him, he hurt himself; he did not hurt me, I hurt myself. Except when added to pronouns used reciprocally, self serves to give emphasis to the pronoun, or to render the distinction expressed by it more emphatical. 'I myself will decide, ' not only expresses my determination to decide, but the determination that no other shall decide. Himself, herself, themselves, are used in the nomnative case, as well as in the objective. Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples. See Matthew 23:4. 3. Self is sometimes as a noun, noting the individual subject to his own contemplation or action, or noting identity of person. Consciousness makes everyone to be what he call self. A man's self may be the worst fellow to converse with in the world. Pope. 4. It also signifies personal interest, or love of private interest; selfishness. The fondness we have for self- furnishes anothe long rank of prejudices. Watts. Self is much used in composition.
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* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well. |
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