self
a person or thing referred to with respect to complete individuality: one's own self.
a person's nature, character, etc.: his better self.
personal interest.
Philosophy.
the ego; that which knows, remembers, desires, suffers, etc., as contrasted with that known, remembered, etc.
the uniting principle, as a soul, underlying all subjective experience.
myself, himself, herself, etc.: to make a check payable to self.
to self-pollinate.
Origin of self
1Other definitions for self- (2 of 2)
a combining form of self and variously used with the meanings “of the self” (self-analysis) and “by oneself or itself” (self-appointed); and with the meanings “to, with, toward, for, on, in oneself” (self-complacent), “inherent in oneself or itself” (self-explanatory), “independent” (self-government), and “automatic” (self-operating).
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use self in a sentence
Convinced that Nero had become a self-aggrandizing liability, they decided he must go.
Librarian Will Andersen is partial to the self-published memoirs by soldiers not as famous as Ike.
Things are shipshape at the Army and Navy Club on Farragut Square in D.C. | John Kelly | November 18, 2020 | Washington PostThe comedian will wrap up his self-titled nightly TBS show next year, and then move to HBO Max, where he’ll host a weekly variety series.
Conan O’Brien’s move to HBO Max heralds the future of late-night comedy | Adam Epstein | November 18, 2020 | QuartzSo this is from a self-interested standpoint, a critical issue for us.
EmTech Stage: Facebook’s CTO on misinformation | Tate Ryan-Mosley | November 18, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewThese new systems self-monitor the condition of roads and bridges quickly and accurately and can, sometimes, even repair themselves.
Smart Concrete Could Pave the Way for High-Tech, Cost-Effective Roads | Luna Lu | November 13, 2020 | Singularity Hub
I was heavy in spirit, my conscience accused me of a wrong to one of the “selfs” in me,—for we have several selfs, I think.
Unveiling a Parallel | Alice Ilgenfritz Jones and Ella MarchantUs ladies is musin our selfs er makin dis ole fing farly howl.
The Broken Sword | Dennison WorthingtonWhile, in the case of the Selfs consisting of food and so on, a further inner self is duly mentioned each time.
The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya | Translator: George ThibautThe preceding adhikarana had shown that the five Selfs (consisting of food, mind, and so on), which the Taitt.
The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya | Translator: George ThibautFor Kapila, by acknowledging a plurality of Selfs, does not admit the doctrine of there being one universal self.
The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya | Translator: George Thibaut
British Dictionary definitions for self (1 of 2)
/ (sɛlf) /
the distinct individuality or identity of a person or thing
a person's usual or typical bodily make-up or personal characteristics: she looked her old self again
good self or good selves rare a polite way of referring to or addressing a person (or persons), used following your, his, her, or their
one's own welfare or interests: he only thinks of self
an individual's consciousness of his own identity or being
the self philosophy that which is essential to an individual, esp the mind or soul in Cartesian metaphysics; the ego
a bird, animal, etc, that is a single colour throughout, esp a self-coloured pigeon
not standard myself, yourself, etc: seats for self and wife
of the same colour or material: a dress with a self belt See also self-coloured
obsolete the same
Origin of self
1British Dictionary definitions for self- (2 of 2)
of oneself or itself: self-defence; self-rule
by, to, in, due to, for, or from the self: self-employed; self-inflicted; self-respect
automatic or automatically: self-propelled
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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