self

¹self

pronoun \ˈself, Southern also ˈsef\

Definition of SELF

: myself, himself, herself <a check payable to self>

Origin of SELF

Middle English (intensive pron.), from Old English; akin to Old High German selb, intensive pron., and probably to Latin suus one's own — more at suicide

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with SELF

elf, Guelf, pelf, shelf

²self

adjective

Definition of SELF

1

obsolete : identical, same

2

obsolete : belonging to oneself : own

3

a : having a single character or quality throughout; specifically : having one color only <a self flower>

b : of the same kind (as in color, material, or pattern) as something with which it is used <self trimming>

Examples of SELF

1. <a self-red rose of a shade that hasn't been seen before>

First Known Use of SELF

before 12th century

Related to SELF

Synonyms

monochrome, monochromic, monochromatic, self-colored, solid

Antonyms

chromatic, colorful, kaleidoscopic, motley, multicolored, polychromatic, polychrome, rainbow, varicolored, varied, variegated

Related Words

achromatic, neutral

Near Antonyms

dappled (also dapple), marbled, shaded; mottled, parti-color (or parti-colored), piebald, pied, pinto, skewbald; banded, barred, brindled (or brindle), streaked, striated; checkered, dotted, patterned, plaid, striped; flecked, specked, speckled, spotted; bichrome, bicolored (or bicolor), dichromatic, trichromatic, tricolor (or tricolored), two-tone

³self

noun

plural selves \ˈselvz, Southern also ˈsevz\

Definition of SELF

1

a : the entire person of an individual

b : the realization or embodiment of an abstraction

2

a (1) : an individual's typical character or behavior <her true self was revealed> (2) : an individual's temporary behavior or character <his better self>

b : a person in prime condition <feel like my old self today>

3

: the union of elements (as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person

4

: personal interest or advantage

5

: material that is part of an individual organism <ability of the immune system to distinguish self from nonself>

Examples of SELF

1. She showed her better self at the party.
2. Her public self is very different from her private self.
3. Philosophers have written about the conception of the self.

First Known Use of SELF

13th century

Related to SELF

Synonyms

character, clay, colors, complexion, constitution, genius, personality, nature, tone

Related Words

distinctiveness, distinctness, individuality, singularity, uniqueness; attribute, characteristic, earmark, essentiality, feature, flavor, hallmark, mark, point, property, savor (also savour), stamp, trait; disposition, grain, sort, temper, temperament; composition, makeup; essence, essentiality, interior, interiority, soul, spirit; metal, stuff, substance; habit, way

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

⁴self

verb

Definition of SELF

transitive verb

1

: inbreed

2

: to pollinate with pollen from the same flower or plant

intransitive verb

: to undergo self-pollination

First Known Use of SELF

1905

self

noun \ˈself\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; selves \ˈselvz\ (audio pronunciation)

Medical Definition of SELF

1

: the union of elements (as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person

2

: material that is part of an individual organism <ability of the immune system to distinguish self from nonself>