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Origin and Etymology of self
Middle English (intensive pronoun), from Old English; akin to Old High German selb, intensive pronoun, and probably to Latin suus one's own — more at suicide
Definition of self
Examples of self in a Sentence
a self-red rose of a shade that hasn't been seen before
First Known Use of self
before 12th century
self Synonyms
Synonyms
monochrome, monochromic, monochromatic, self-colored, solidAntonyms
chromatic, colorful, kaleidoscopic, motley, multicolored, polychromatic, polychrome, rainbow, varicolored, varied, variegatedRelated Words
achromatic, neutralNear 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-toneDefinition of self
plural selves
play
\ˈselvz, Southern also ˈsevz\
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 (such 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 in a Sentence
She showed her better self at the party.
Her public self is very different from her private self.
Philosophers have written about the conception of the self.
Recent Examples of self from the Web
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But the change would be one way to provide relief to people who buy their own insurance, earn too much to get federal premium subsidies and cannot deduct premiums from their taxes because they are not technically self-employed.
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With Boone back to his speedy self, matters should improve assuming the line gets some push.
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Ahead of the storm, there were questions about whether Texas-style self-reliance or a centralized, civil-defense-era response from the federal government should govern.
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The center is divided into nine lots, five of which are self-contained pad sites, including Bank of America, Dunkin’ Donuts and Wendy’s.
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At $99.95 a pop, the sky's the limit — providing plenty of money for these two self-professed style influencers to maintain their eye-popping wardrobes.
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As a matter of fact, his hand is placed where no self-respecting gentleman would ever put his hand when posing with a young woman.
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Either as an individual earner in taxes OR in self sacrifice to your country?
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In other words, RuPaul has long been a vivid rebuke to rigid world views, conservative social values, and self-seriousness of all kinds, well before the culture shift that’s opened up a growth market for his message.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'self.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of self
13th century
self Synonyms
Synonyms
character, clay, colors, complexion, constitution, genius, personality, nature, toneRelated 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, wayOther Psychology Terms
Definition of self
intransitive verb
:to undergo self-pollination
Recent Examples of self from the Web
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On the other hand, Price's boss, President Trump, has been loudly declaring his ongoing animosity to Obamacare and his hopes that its marketplaces will self-implode.
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Hip waders will self-destruct over the winter without proper care.
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For someone who would not self-describe as an adventurous eater, the prospect of street food was exhilarating and frightening.
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For someone who would not self-describe as an adventurous eater, the prospect of street food was exhilarating and frightening.
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For someone who would not self-describe as an adventurous eater, the prospect of street food was exhilarating and frightening.
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The room is mirrored so participants can self correct their posture and form, but Parker often catches them first.
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For someone who would not self-describe as an adventurous eater, the prospect of street food was both exhilarating and frightening.
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A group of people will self-pleasure and have an orgasm together in dedication to a specific wish or prayer. Because orgasms are so powerful!
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'self.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of self
1905
self-
combining form
Definition of self-
1 a
:oneself or itself
- self-supporting
b
:of oneself or itself
- self-abasement
c
:by oneself or itself
- self-propelled
- self-acting
2 a
:to, with, for, or toward oneself or itself
- self-consistent
- self-addressed
- self-love
b
:of or in oneself or itself inherently
- self-evident
c
:from or by means of oneself or itself
- self-fertile
- self-abasement
- self–abnegating
- self–abnegation
- self–accelerating
- self–acceptance
- self–accusation
- self–accusatory
- self–accusing
- self–acknowledged
- self–adjusting
- self–administer
- self–administration
- self–admitted
- self–admittedly
- self–adulatory
- self–advancement
- self–advertisement
- self–advertiser
- self–affirmation
- self–alienation
- self–anointed
- self–appraisal
- self–approbation
- self–assessment
- self–assignment
- self–authenticating
- self–avowed
- self–betterment
- self–cancel
- self–care
- self–caricature
- self–castigate
- self–castigation
- self–censorship
- self–characterization
- self–classification
- self–cleaning
- self–command
- self–communing
- self–communion
- self–complacency
- self–complacent
- self–condemnation
- self–condemned
- self–confirming
- self–consecration
- self–constituted
- self–consuming
- self–contemplation
- self–contempt
- self–created
- self–creation
- self–critical
- self–criticism
- self–critique
- self–cultivation
- self–culture
- self–damning
- self–debasement
- self–deceit
- self–deceive
- self–deception
- self–defeating
- self–deluded
- self–deluding
- self–delusion
- self–denigrating
- self–denigration
- self–dependence
- self–dependent
- self–depreciation
- self–described
- self–description
- self–descriptive
- self–destroyer
- self–development
- self–devouring
- self–differentiation
- self–directed
- self–directing
- self–direction
- self–directive
- self–disgust
- self–display
- self–dissatisfaction
- self–doubt
- self–educated
- self–educating
- self–education
- self–effacement
- self–effacing
- self–emancipation
- self–emasculation
- self–enclosed
- self–engrossed
- self–enhancement
- self–evaluate
- self–evaluation
- self–exclusion
- self–exculpation
- self–exhibition
- self–existence
- self–existent
- self–explaining
- self–extinction
- self–finance
- self–formed
- self–generate
- self–giving
- self–guided
- self–hate
- self–hating
- self–hatred
- self–healing
- self–humbling
- self–humiliation
- self–hypnosis
- self–idolatry
- self–imposed
- self–improvement
- self–improver
- self–induced
- self–infatuated
- self–inflation
- self–inflicted
- self–initiated
- self–instructed
- self–instruction
- self–instructional
- self–interview
- self–invented
- self–invention
- self–isolation
- self–labeled
- self–lacerating
- self–laceration
- self–locking
- self–lubricating
- self–luminous
- self–maintenance
- self–management
- self–mastery
- self–medication
- self–mockery
- self–mocking
- self–mortification
- self–motivated
- self–mutilating
- self–mutilation
- self–negating
- self–obsessed
- self–operating
- self–ordained
- self–oriented
- self–parodist
- self–parody
- self–penned
- self–perpetuating
- self–perpetuation
- self–plagiarism
- self–pleasing
- self–policing
- self–praise
- self–preoccupation
- self–preoccupied
- self–preserving
- self–produced
- self–promoter
- self–promoting
- self–promotion
- self–protection
- self–protective
- self–protectiveness
- self–punishing
- self–punishment
- self–raised
- self–recrimination
- self–reference
- self–referential
- self–referring
- self–reformation
- self–regulation
- self–regulative
- self–regulatory
- self–reinforcing
- self–renewal
- self–renewing
- self–renouncing
- self–renunciation
- self–reproach
- self–reproachful
- self–reproof
- self–reproving
- self–restraint
- self–ridicule
- self–satirizing
- self–selected
- self–selection
- self–set
- self–surrender
- self–sustained
- self–therapy
- self–torment
- self–tormentor
- self–torture
- self–transcendence
- self–transformation
- self–understanding
- self–validating
- self–worship
- self–worshipper
Origin and Etymology of self-
Middle English, from Old English, from self
SELF Defined for English Language Learners
self
noun
Definition of self for English Language Learners
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: the person that someone normally or truly is
-
: a particular part of your personality or character that is shown in a particular situation
-
: the personality or character that makes a person different from other people : the combination of emotions, thoughts, feelings, etc., that make a person different from others
self-
combining form
Definition of self- for English Language Learners
-
: yourself or itself
-
: of yourself or itself
-
: by, to, with, for, or toward yourself or itself
SELF Defined for Kids
self-
prefix
Definition of self- for Students
1
:someone's or something's self
- self-governing
2
:of or by someone's or something's self
- self-control
3
:to, with, for, or toward someone's or something's self
- self-respect
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of self
plural selves
play
\ˈselvz\
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
Learn More about self
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See words that rhyme with self Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for self Spanish Central: Translation of self Nglish: Translation of self for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of self for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about self
Seen and Heard
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