himself

[him-self, im-self]

pronoun

1. an emphatic appositive of him or he.

   He himself spoke to the men.

2. a reflexive form of him.

   He cut himself.

3. (used in absolute constructions).

   Himself the soul of honor, he included many rascals among his intimates.

4. (used as the object of a preposition or as the direct or indirect object of a verb).

   The old car had room only for himself and three others.

5. (used in comparisons after as orthan ).

   His wife is as stingy as himself.

6. his normal or customary self.

   He is himself again.

7. Irish English.,  a man of importance, especially the master of the house.

   Himself will be wanting an early dinner.

himself

/ ɪmˈsɛlf, hɪmˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of he or him

   2. (intensifier)

      the king himself waved to me

2. (preceded by a copula) his normal or usual self

   he seems himself once more

3. the man of the house

   how is himself?

Usage

See myself.

Word History and Origins

Origin of himself¹

before 900; Middle English him selven, Old English him selfum, dative singular of hē self he himself; him, self

Word History and Origins

Origin of himself¹

Old English him selfum, dative singular of hē self; see _he ¹ , _self

Example Sentences

Sparks is known for pulling at readers’ heartstrings with cinematic love stories — 11 of which have made their way to the big screen, and several of which Sparks produced himself.

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At one point, Gregory filmed a video of himself showing Dickinson how to set up and smoke heroin.

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Mike gathers himself, shushes the woman for waking him and then collects his belongings to begin a day of panhandling.

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Hank’s not wrong that a man in his defensive crouch can’t exonerate himself.

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Even down to the last show, he willed himself, like, “I’m going to do this show.”

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