herself

[ her-self ]

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 or than ):

   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.

herself

/ 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?

Usage Note

See myself.

Word History and Origins

Origin of herself¹

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

Example Sentences

As the protagonist gets herself off in front of her impotent husband, she moans “Oh, Gronky.”

From The Daily Beast

Myerson herself appears to have bought into that stigma, offering mixed to negative views on the Miss America pageant.

From The Daily Beast

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice turned herself in to serve a 15-month sentence for bankruptcy fraud.

From The Daily Beast

One difference was that Chen was herself wearing white gloves.

From The Daily Beast

But the act of killing herself done, the message was sent, and heard, and things started changing.

From The Daily Beast

She herself had worn them in her youth, and they were the proper bonnets for "growing girls."

From Project Gutenberg

Hilda, trembling at the door, more than half expected Mr. Orgreave to say: "You mean, she's invited herself."

From Project Gutenberg

None other would dare to show herself unveiled to a stranger, and a white man at that.

From Project Gutenberg

She took the fan from Madame Ratignolle and began to fan both herself and her companion.

From Project Gutenberg

And once more, she found herself desiring to be like Janet--not only in appearance, but in soft manner and tone.

From Project Gutenberg