Self
King James Dictionary [1]
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.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( n.) Hence, personal interest, or love of private interest; selfishness; as, self is his whole aim.
(2): ( n.) Personification; embodiment.
(3): ( a.) 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.
(4): ( a.) Same; particular; very; identical.
(5): ( n.) 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.
