herself

American  

[her-self] / hərˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. an emphatic appositive of her or she.

   She herself wrote the letter.

2. a reflexive form of her.

   She supports herself.

3. (used in absolute constructions).

   Herself still only a child, she had to take care of her four younger brothers and sisters.

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

   She gave herself a facial massage. He asked her for a picture of herself.

5. (used in comparisons after as orthan ).

   She found out that the others were even more nervous than herself.

6. her normal or customary self.

   After a few weeks of rest, she will be herself again.

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herself British  

/ həˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of she or her

   2. (intensifier)

      the queen herself signed the letter

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

   she looks herself again after the operation

3. the wife or woman of the house

   is herself at home?

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Usage

See myself.

Etymology

Origin of herself

before 1000; Middle English hire-selfe, Old English hire self. See her, self

Example Sentences

Smith herself is neurodivergent, which "helps me question the status quo", she says.

From BBC

McGuane, who herself left a memorial there after her brother died, compared it to the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis.

From The Wall Street Journal

Cynthia Zimmer is also the aunt of Scrivner, and before recusing herself from the case, she played a key role in alerting law enforcement to his actions.

From Los Angeles Times

“I felt an overwhelming need to nap, which is unusual for me, as I typically do not take naps,” she said, describing herself as feeling “blah.”

From Salon

When asked if she can keep a secret herself, she joked: "I have kept a secret for a very long time. Jennifer Saunders is an alien."

From BBC