| 释义 |
selfpron.adj.n.adv. Forms: α. Old English selfa (weak declension), Old English seolfa (weak declension), Old English silfa (weak declension), Old English siolf (chiefly non-West Saxon), Old English siolfa (non-West Saxon, weak declension), Old English solfa (Northumbrian, weak declension), Old English sylfa (weak declension), Old English (Northumbrian)–early Middle English solf, Old English–Middle English (chiefly west midlands) seolf, Old English–Middle English silf, Old English–Middle English sylf, Old English– self, early Middle English sælf, early Middle English sellf ( Ormulum), early Middle English seolfan (south-west midlands), early Middle English seolfe (south-west midlands and south-western), early Middle English seolfen (west midlands), early Middle English sevlf (in copy of Old English charter), early Middle English suf (transmission error), early Middle English ( Ormulum) 1600s sellfe, Middle English celf, Middle English seelf, Middle English selfen, Middle English selfene, Middle English selfon (in a late copy), Middle English sijlf, Middle English sijlfe, Middle English silff, Middle English suelf (south-west midlands), Middle English sulf (south-west midlands and south-western), Middle English sulfe (south-west midlands and south-western), Middle English sylfe, Middle English sylff, Middle English sylffe, Middle English syllf, Middle English zelf (south-eastern), Middle English–1500s selph, Middle English–1500s silfe, Middle English–1600s selfe, Middle English–1600s selff, Middle English–1600s selffe, late Middle English selef, late Middle English selphe, 1500s sellff, 1500s seylf, 1500s seylff, 1500s seylffe, 1500s–1600s sealf, 1500s–1600s sellffe; also Scottish pre-1700 salf, pre-1700 salff, pre-1700 salyf, pre-1700 schelf, pre-1700 selfin, pre-1700 selfine, pre-1700 selfyn, pre-1700 seliff, pre-1700 sellffe, pre-1700 selth, pre-1700 selyf, pre-1700 shelf, pre-1700 slef, pre-1700 sleff. β. Old English seolua (weak declension, rare), Old English sylu- (inflected form), Old English sylva (weak declension, rare), Old English–early Middle English selu- (inflected form), Old English–early Middle English selua (weak declension, rare), Old English–early Middle English sylua (weak declension, rare), Old English (rare)–Middle English (in copy of Old English charter) silu-, late Old English silua, early Middle English sculuen (south-west midlands, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English seluef (transmission error), early Middle English seolv- (south-west midlands, inflected form), early Middle English seouluen (south-west midlands), early Middle English solue (south-west midlands), early Middle English sulve (south-west midlands), early Middle English sylfuum, early Middle English sylv- (inflected form, in copy of Old English charter), Middle English selu, Middle English seluen, Middle English seluene, Middle English seluin, Middle English seluon (in a late copy), Middle English seluun (north-west midlands), Middle English seluyn, Middle English selven, Middle English selvene, Middle English selvyn, Middle English selwe, Middle English selwen, Middle English seolue (chiefly south-west midlands), Middle English seoluen (south-west midlands), Middle English seolve (south-west midlands), Middle English silue, Middle English siluen, Middle English silve, Middle English silven, Middle English sulue (chiefly south-west midlands and south-western), Middle English suluen (chiefly south-west midlands and south-western), Middle English sylue, Middle English syluen, Middle English zelue (south-eastern), Middle English zelve (south-eastern), Middle English–1600s selue, Middle English 1700s selve; also Scottish pre-1700 selu, pre-1700 seluin, pre-1700 selvin, pre-1700 selvyn, pre-1700 selvyne, pre-1700 selwine, pre-1700 selwyn, pre-1700 selwyne. γ. early Middle English sulne (south-west midlands, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English sille (perhaps transmission error), Middle English selen (northern, perhaps transmission error), 1500s sill, 1500s–1600s seln, 1600s sen, 1800s zil (Irish English (Wexford)); English regional 1700s–1800s sell (chiefly northern and midlands), 1700s–1800s seln (northern), 1700s–1800s sen (chiefly northern and midlands), 1700s– sel (chiefly northern and midlands), 1800s senn (Yorkshire), 1800s zel' (south-western), 1800s zell (Gloucestershire, Berkshire), 1800s zul (Somerset), 1800s zull (Devon), 1800s– sel'; Scottish pre-1700 saill, pre-1700 sall, pre-1700 seill, pre-1700 1700s– sel, pre-1700 1700s– sell, 1700s shell, 1700s– sel'. Plural. α. Old English selfan, Old English seolfan, Old English silfan, Old English solfe (Northumbrian), Old English–early Middle English seolfe, Old English–early Middle English silfe, Old English–early Middle English sylfe, Old English–Middle English selfe, Old English–Middle English sylfan, late Old English–early Middle English sylfen, early Middle English sellfenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English seolfen (south-west midlands), early Middle English sulfen (chiefly south-west midlands), early Middle English sylfæn, early Middle English sylfum, Middle English selfen, Middle English selffyn, Middle English selfyn, Middle English–1700s (1800s– regional) selfs, late Middle English–1500s selffes, late Middle English–1600s selfes, 1500s selfis, 1500s–1600s selfys, 1600s selffs; also Scottish pre-1700 selffis, pre-1700 selffs, pre-1700 selfiis, pre-1700 selfin, pre-1700 selfine, pre-1700 selfis, pre-1700 sellfes, pre-1700 sellffis, pre-1700 sellfis. β. Old English sylue (rare), Old English (rare)–1600s selue, early Middle English seoleuen (south-west midlands), early Middle English seoluan (south-west midlands), early Middle English seoluen (south-west midlands), early Middle English soluen (south-west midlands), early Middle English suluen (chiefly south-west midlands and south-western), Middle English selfuan, Middle English seluen, Middle English seluin, Middle English seluon (north-west midlands, in a late copy), Middle English seluyn, Middle English selve, Middle English selven, Middle English selvene, Middle English selwen, Middle English selwin, Middle English silfuen (in copy of Old English charter), Middle English siluen, Middle English silven, Middle English syluen, Middle English zellue (south-eastern), 1500s seleuys, 1500s selu's, 1500s seluys, 1500s–1700s selues, 1500s–1700s selvs, 1500s– selves, 1600s selv's, 1900s– silves (Irish English (northern)); also Scottish pre-1700 salvis, pre-1700 seleues, pre-1700 selewyn, pre-1700 selfues, pre-1700 sellwes, pre-1700 seluis, pre-1700 seluyn, pre-1700 selvin, pre-1700 selvis, pre-1700 selvyn, pre-1700 selwes, pre-1700 selwyn, pre-1700 selwyne. γ. 1600s selles; English regional 1800s sel'n (Yorkshire), 1800s sens, 1800s– seln (Lancashire), 1800s– sels, 1800s– sen; Scottish pre-1700 sellis, pre-1700 1700s– sells, pre-1700 1700s– sels, 1700s–1800s sell's, 1800s– sel's. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian self (strong), selva (weak), Old Dutch self (strong), selvo (weak) (Middle Dutch self , selve , Dutch zelf ), Old Saxon self (strong), selƀo (weak) (Middle Low German sülf , self , silf , solf ), Old High German selb (strong), selbo (weak) (Middle High German selp , selbe , German selb , selbe ; compare selbst ), Old Icelandic (strong) sjálfr , Norwegian sjøl , sjølv , Swedish sjelv , Danish selv , Gothic silba (weak); further etymology uncertain; perhaps representing a Germanic compound of the pronominal stem seen also in Old Frisian sik , Old Dutch sik (Middle Dutch sich , Dutch zich ), Middle Low German sik , sek , Old High German sih (Middle High German sich , German sich ), Old Icelandic sik , Norwegian regional seg , Old Swedish sik (Swedish sig ), Old Danish sik , sek (Danish sig ), Gothic sik < the same Indo-European base as classical Latin sē , reflexive pronoun (see per se n.3 and adv.).Functional development. In all of the Germanic languages, this word is attested in emphatic use; compare use as pronoun in English (senses at A.). The reflexive use is originally a particular case of emphatic use that was eventually grammaticalized in the individual languages. Thus in Old English use of self to express reflexivity, either alone or in combination with personal pronouns, was not yet obligatory. Adjectival use indicating identity (see sense B. 1) is found in the other West Germanic languages as well as in English. This use probably developed in constructions where the emphatic pronoun preceded the noun (see sense A. 1b) and identity was implied, typically by a determiner or demonstrative. Inflection in Old English and implications for phonology. In Old English the word in use as adjective often declines weak, as it is frequently found with preceding determiner, but strong forms without determiner are also found (compare sense B. 1b). As a pronoun, the word usually follows the strong declension, but weak forms occur, especially for the nominative singular. The α. and β. forms as presented here are distinguished on the basis of whether they show f or u/v in the spelling. When uninflected (as in the strong masculine nominative singular and neuter nominative and accusative singular), the word-final voiced fricative was unvoiced, contrasting with inflected forms with voiced fricative, although in Old English both were regularly spelt f and indication of the voiced quality (as e.g. in selu- ) was rare. In Middle English the voiced consonant appears both in forms of the singular, where it chiefly reflects forms of the weak declension of the adjective and strong dative forms of the pronoun, and in the plural. In modern standard English the voiced consonant is retained in the plural of the pronoun (and in use as noun), with addition of s -plural (historically, a double plural form; compare discussion at themselves pron.). The s -plural first appears for the word in use as pronoun in late Middle English; see 'emselves pron. Beside such uses, where self agrees with a noun, pronoun, or implied subject, use of the uninflected form is occasionally found in Old English, when the pronoun is in apposition to nominative plural forms. From late Old English on, the uninflected form is sometimes substituted for dative forms in earlier constructions; compare discussion at 'emself pron. Form types in Old English and their later history. Old English seolf (beside self ) apparently shows (rare) breaking before the consonant group -lf- and is reflected in Middle English (west midland) forms showing spellings of the stem vowel as eo , o , u ; Old English (Northumbrian) solf shows a further development of regressive assimilation within the diphthong (and consequent monophthongization), and this is perhaps partly also reflected by Middle English spellings with o . Old English sylf reflects a late West Saxon sound change affecting the group sel- and is continued by Middle English (south-western) spellings with u , i ; other Middle English forms with stem vowel i also develop by raising of e before dental l . The form seln at γ forms (both singular and plural), attested chiefly in northern and Scots sources, shows development of forms such as selven with loss of -v- between -l- and the following nasal; further reduction is shown by forms such as sel , sen . For similar developments compare γ. forms at devil n. and see discussion at that entry. Development of noun use. In Old English in some uses of the genitive of self , the word superficially resembles a noun; however, the construction should rather be interpreted as showing appositive use of the pronoun and does not appear to be the direct antecedent of later noun use. Compare the discussion of Old English mīn selfes , þīn selfes , his selfes , etc. at myself pron., thyself pron., hisself pron., etc. (and see quot. OE at sense A. 3). Compare also variants of this construction, as ūrra selfra (see ourself pron.), ēowra selfra (see yourself pron.), which show substitution of the genitive of the possessive adjective for the genitive of the personal pronoun, and further heora selfes (see 'emself pron.), which shows the genitive of the plural pronoun preceding genitive singular of self (compare also use of āgenes selfes with preceding personal pronoun in the genitive at ownself pron.). Compare similar constructions in Old Icelandic, as sjálfs þíns (2nd singular), hans sjálfs (3rd singular), etc. and Old High German mīn selbes (1st singular), sīn selbes (3rd singular, reflexive), etc. and also dīnes selbes (2nd singular), sīnes selbes (3rd singular, reflexive). For a more detailed discussion of use in Old English, see B. Mitchell Old Eng. Syntax (1985) §§301, 472–99. Reanalysis of forms of the pronoun as showing a noun (see senses at C. I.) is more clearly seen in Middle English, after the two combinations of personal pronoun + self current in Old English (see I self etc. at sense A. 2a and me self etc. at sense A. 2c) had been superseded by myself pron., thyself pron., himself pron., etc. Compare the remodelling of the first element of the compound pronouns after the possessive adjective discussed at myself pron., thyself pron., etc. and see also the discussion at herself pron., which apparently served as immediate model for this remodelling, after reanalysis of the first element (the dative pronoun her pron.2) as the possessive adjective her adj.2 Although the use as noun appears to have originated in morphological processes, it came to supply a need of expression which has been felt and variously supplied in some other languages; compare e.g. German Selbst ( < selbst, adverb (earlier selbes, originally the genitive of the pronoun). Use in compound pronouns. For the various grammatical functions of this word in myself, thyself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves, oneself, and for illustration of the emphatic and the reflexive functions of these words, see discussion at those entries. A. pron. I. In appositive use, indicating emphatically that the reference is to the person or thing mentioned and not, or not merely, to some other. 1. With a noun. Mostly superseded by the use of the emphatic pronouns himself, herself, itself, themselves, or, after a definite article or demonstrative, by (the, this, that) very.OE 134 Nu is rodera weard, God sylfa mid us. OE Ælfric Homily: De Duodecim Abusivis (Corpus Cambr. 178) in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 299 We magon..habban us on ende þone ecan wurðmynt a mid gode sylfum. OE Byrhtferð (Ashm.) (1995) ii. iii. 114 Syn we clæne beforan þæs ælmihtigan ansyne.., þæt we geearnion æt Criste sylfum ece mede. a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 67 He fondede god solf mid his wrenche. c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1981) l. 21 Euchan bi his euene biuore Maxence seolf wurdgede his maumez. c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 67 (MED) Ure lauerd seolf [a1250 Nero sulf, a1250 Titus self] seið, [etc.]. ?a1300 (Bodl.) (1916) l. 191 (MED) Tofore þe king selue he serueþ atte bord. 1340 (1866) 59 (MED) Þe wordle zelf ham halt uor fol and uor vilayn. c1400 (?c1390) (1940) l. 51 With all þe wele of þe worlde þay woned þer samen, Þe most kyd knyȝteȝ vnder Krystes seluen. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 236 (MED) Þe bygynnyng of alle þis proces Ryght knawyng of a man self es. a1475 in A. Clark (1905) i. 365 By the auctorite I-yove to them of the pope self. 1509 J. Fisher (de Worde) sig. Aiiijv Tyl he came vnto ye place selfe where he receyued the sacrament. 1532 T. More iii. p. ccxxx This is the thynge selfe that is in debate. 1541 T. Wyatt Declar. in K. Muir (1963) 183 In serchynge Masons papers the mynist therof was fownde, and after..the lettre selffe came to his handes. 1548 E. Gest sig. Hivv Dyd not christ selue alwaye pray to hys father. 1566 in H. Ellis (1824) 1st Ser. II. 208 We fynde the same confirmed by the parties self that were ther present. 1579 E. K. in E. Spenser June 18 Gloss. This is..spoken of the Poete selfe. 1650 Bp. J. Taylor 347 This Sacrifice, because it was perfect, could be but one, and that once; but because the needs of the world should last as long as the world self, it was necessary that there should be a perpetual ministery established. 1697 W. Congreve iv. 44 King. On your Life take heed, That only Zara's Mutes, or such who bring Her Warrant, have Admittance to the Moor. Zara. They and no other; not the Princess self. 1847 31 Mar. 2 Eben dem lilly pickny self da go na rum shap. 1873 G. H. Calvert ii. ii. 41 My look so dazzled that I seemed to see An image almost of the Virgin self, Descended on a cloud rainful of pity. 1877 H. G. Murray 21 ‘Him hab sheep, dough?’ ‘Him no hab none, maam... Him no hab a piece o sheep wool self.’ 1951 T. Redcam in K. Ramchand & C. Gray (1972) 22 Doan' dare you to come yah so push me, As in a' dis car I is sit; I pay fe me fare an' I tell you De Gubbena self wouden' fit. 1992 L. Scott (1993) 173 And Leo self dress up in one of Master Jeansie old suit, looking spruce up. 1995 M. Collins 125 And Ione, self, wasn't a kind of person you could depend on. OE Cynewulf 69 Þa wearð on slæpe sylfum ætywed þam casere, þær he on corðre swæf, sigerofum gesegen swefres woma. OE tr. Bede (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) i. Introd. 26 Ðis ealond under þam sylfum norðdæle middangeardes nyhst ligeþ. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 18760 Acc i þe shaffte iss sinne, & woh, All þurrh þe sellfe shaffte. a1300 (?c1250) (Jesus Oxf.) (1935) l. 746 Ich graunti þat þu go to dome To-vore the sulve [c1275 Calig. þe sulfe þe] pope of rome. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 2610 God haued swilc fair-hed him geuen, Ðat self ðe fon it leten liuen. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 1806 Wulde he non senwe siðen eten, Self his kinde nile ðat wune forgeten. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 22597 (MED) Þe self angels [a1400 Gött. þe seluen angelis] sal quake vnqueme For dute of him þat all sal deme. c1410 tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 151 Oþer elles oþere hadde possessioun, in so moche þat þe self offrynges were reft fro þe autters under naked swerdes. 1472–3 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1472 1st Roll §37. m. 19 That the said copie of the said recorde be taken, demed, and had for the self recorde. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour (Adv.) vii. 126 Thai persauit..That he wes the selwyn Robert King. a1500 (a1477) Black Bk. (Soc. of Antiquaries) in A. R. Myers (1959) 153 Also they haue ouersyght for the thesaurer's party in euery office, both of the self stuff and the ministracion, how hit passith. 1526 W. Bonde iii. sig. GGGiiv In their olde age before the hour of dethe, or in the selfe poynt of dethe. 1530 (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 197 Vere caritatis, God ys the louer of very charite, and god is the selfe charyte. 1531 T. Elyot i. xxv. sig. Miijv Discretio in latine..as it is communely vsed, it is nat only like to Modestie, but it is the selfe Modestie. a1569 A. Kingsmill (1580) x. 61 Christ hath hereby approved hymselfe the true anointed, the self Saviour, and verie Jesus. 1610 J. Guillim i. viii. 32 If a man do perform any praiseworthy Action the self deed will sufficiently commend him though he hold his peace. 1735 A. Ramsay 7 Even sell K. T. that gart us ban, And eke, that setting Dog, his Man. 1848 J. R. Lowell 1st Ser. ix. 140 I confess to a satisfaction in the self act of preaching. 1955 E. Hill 6 Is dat self pan what go win de competition tonight oui. 1978 in R. Allsopp (1996) 497/2 Is the self minister gave me that form. 2. With a pronoun (immediately adjacent or with intervening words). eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) xvi. 105 Oft eac gebyreð ðonne se scrift ongit ðæs costunga ðe he him ondetteð ðæt eac self bið mid ðæm ilcum gecostod. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xxiv. 39 Geseoð mine handa & mine fet þæt ic sylf hit eom. OE (1932) lxvii. 4 Doð siðfæt þæs seftne.., þe he sylfa astah ofer sunnan up, þam is to naman nemned drihten. a1225 ( Ælfric's Homily De Initio Creaturae (Vesp. A.xxii) in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 229 Ne michti hi alle hin acwelle ȝef he sylf nold. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Thess. i. 4 We silf glorien in ȝou in the chirchis of God. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 19432 And siþen spak he o þair lagh, þat þai it cuth noght seluen knau. 1633 P. Fletcher Piscatorie Eclogs iv. xx. 24 in Self did I see a swain not long ago. b. Following an object personal pronoun. Now only in himself pron. and n., herself pron., themselves pron., us self pron.OE (1932) lxi. 9 Ge, manna bearn, manes unlyt wyrceað on wægum.., and eow beswicað sylfe oftast. a1225 ( Ælfric's Homily In Die Sancto Pentecosten (Lamb. 487) in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 95 Erest he scal hine seolfne wið sunnan isteoran, and seoððan his heorde. a1225 (c1200) (1888) 125 Bute ðu neme riht of ðe seluen of ðe misdades ðe ðu mis-dest. a1350 in (1911) 127 39 (MED) Mon þat meteþ him self sek ys, of wommon accusynge þat is. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 335 For of him self he toke his euen. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 16653 Wepe yee noght for me, Bot on yur childer and on yow-self. a1425 J. Wyclif (1869) I. 172 But oo firstnesse of love shulde we have to us silf, and to oure fadir and oure modir. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville (Vitell.) l. 7762 For to make the sylue strong. c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 98 Achilles..louyt hym no lesse þen hym lef seluyn. 1576 A. Fleming tr. Sulpicius in 24 Wilt thou, Seruius, stay thee selfe. eOE tr. Orosius (BL Add.) (1980) iii. xi. 79 He [sc. Neoptolomus] com to Antigone þæm cyninge & hiene spon þæt he on Umenis..mid here become. Þa sende Antigones hiene selfne & his oþerne [þegn] Polipercon mid micle fultume. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 15 Eower lond ic wulle friþian and eow selfe meȝhan and bi-werian. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 248 Mine þralles i mire þeode me suluen[c1300 Otho mi-seolue] þretiað. c1300 (c1250) (Cambr.) (1966) l. 146 Þat he þe helpe in alle helve, Ase he wolde meselue. 1535 1 Macc. viii. 7 How they discomfited greate Antiochus..: how they toke him self alyue. eOE tr. Orosius (BL Add.) (1980) iii. ii. 56 Gif his hwa sie lustfull mare to witanne, sece him þonne self þæt. OE 1115 Eall þis magon him sylfe geseon þonne. lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius (Bodl.) (2009) I. xxi. 286 Hi..fordoð ealne ðysne middaneard and weorðað him selfe to nauhte. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 35 Nis þas weorld nawiht ȝe hit iseoð eow seluen. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 14216 Þa heo hire-seolf weore isunken in þe watere. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 1656 Vs selve [c1300 Otho seolf] we habbet cokes to quecchen to cuchene. vs sulue [c1300 Otho seolf] we habbet bermen & birles inowe. c1300 (?c1225) (Cambr.) (1901) l. 45 And þe selue riȝt anon, Ne schaltu todai henne gon. c1380 (1879) l. 2810 We ous self buþ feynt & pal for hungre & for þerst. a1425 J. Wyclif (1871) II. 125 Pilat seide to hem, Tak ȝe him ȝou self, and do ȝe him on þe cross. c1450 (a1400) Chevalere Assigne l. 20 in W. H. French & C. B. Hale (1930) 860 Þey wente vpon a walle..Bothe þe Kynge and þe Qwene hemselfen togedere. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > [adjective] > relating to self > belonging to oneself, itself, etc. OE (2008) 1115 Het ða Hildeburh æt Hnæfes ade hire selfre sunu sweoloðe befæstan. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 1592 (MED) Ich heo wulle þe biwiten & senden ha þe in ane scipe mid seoluen hire claðen. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) l. 754 (MED) I swere þe, be my syre saule & by his selfe pite. 1539 T. Cromwell in R. B. Merriman (1902) II. 175 As he knoweth right well, who at his being here sawe her self visage. 1579 E. Spenser Sept. 176 Colin clout I wene be his selfe boye. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay iv. xxxi. 153 b He forbad the often attempting of warres agaynst ones self party or enemies. 1598 G. Chapman in C. Marlowe & G. Chapman (new ed.) iv. 185 What her hart Did greatest hold in her selfe greatest part. 1632 W. Lithgow iv. 158 They Gormandize at their selfe pleasures. 1647 R. Vines 41 It is to be feared that mens selfe ends, wealth, eminency, interests have too much ingrediency into their opinions in these times. II. Standing alone, without a noun. OE (2008) 895 Þæt he beahhordes brucan moste selfes dome. c1300 MS Lansd. 564 in D. A. Trotter (2000) 70 This you herest sire Stiward yat ic W. schal soot seyen ant no soot forhelen for lef ne for loth, for sille ne for freinde, for huyre ne for biyete ne for non oyer yinge. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 26738 (MED) Hast noght þi scrift on þiskin wis, Bot ilk-a sin be self þou schau. c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in (1897) 12 146 (MED) Be war that ye kepe selvyn true vnto hir. 1587 F. Thynne Ann. Scotl. 445/2 in (new ed.) II [King James VI] A thing hurtfull to none, profitable for selfis, acceptable to God, and vise in the sight of the varld. 1616 B. Jonson Volpone (rev. ed.) i. ii, in I. 454 Selues [1607 Themselues], and others merry-making. 1692 in 5th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS: Pt. 1 (1876) 324/2 in (C.1432) XL. 1 Mr. Till Adams, and self. 1695 N. Whaley viii. 295 Religion..teaches us..to do the best things for the World, and for selves, which is the Glory and Perfection of our Nature. 1758 T. Warton 2 Dec. 273 Mr. H. and self agreed at parting to take a gentle ride. 1792 J. Harrison 20 But wife and self, two persons would pay annually 4l. 1829 C. Lamb 30 Nov. (1935) III. 236 He hath..served for self or substitute the greater parish offices. 1841 W. M. Thackeray vi I am, dear Sirs, for self and partners, Yours most faithfully, Samuel Jackson. 1843 C. Dickens (1844) xxvii. 334 B wants a loan... B proposes self and two securities. B is accepted. Two securities give a bond. 1863 S. Hibberd in Nov. 267 Self and friend took train..for Leatherhead. 1866 A. Crump iv. 88 With the exception of those payable to ‘self’, drawn at the bank counter, or paid to an authorised person for the use of the drawer. 1894 J. D. Astley II. 31 As both self and wife were fond of seeing life,..we decided a trip to Baden Baden would be a nice change for us. 1935 G. Heyer vi. 74 He drew a cheque for a hundred pounds to self on Friday. 1981 7 Mar. 20/5 Memo to self: Remember to project this image when asking for next loan. 2006 (Nexis) 9 Jan. My husband pointed out that at 10am the next day self, hubby and kids had to be on our way to a formal Boxing Day lunch in Hampshire. the world > relative properties > relationship > identity > [noun] > the same thing or person eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) xliv. 322 Ne laða ðu no ðærto [sc. underngiefl oððe æfengiefl] ðine friend.., ne ðine welegan neahgeburas, ðylæs hie ðe don ðæt selfe. OE St. Euphrosyne (Julius) in W. W. Skeat (1900) II. 352 Nelle þu leng beon hohful be þinre dehter Eufrosinan. Soðlice ic earme eom sio sylfe. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 549 What, i suppose þe selue, ȝif it so bi-tidde þat i wrouȝt so wodly & wold to him speke, þat were semlyest to seye, to saue my worchep? a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) i. l. 1247 He..is that selve of whom men speke, Which wol noght bowe er that he breke. a1475 Bk. Curtasye (Sloane 1986) l. 776 in (2002) i. 325 Ȝif þe baken mete be colde, as may byfalle, A gobet of þo self he sayes with-alle. 1486 sig. ejv And when he hath in the toppe .iii. of the selue Then ye shall call hym trochid an hert of .xii. c1500 (?a1437) (1939) clxi A mantill..That furrit was with ermyn full quhite, Degoutit with the self in spottis blake. 1532 in J. B. Paul (1905) VI. 76 Ane doublat with ane lang geit of the self. 1551–6 in C. Innes (1855) II. ii. 428 The rentall of the prebendrie of Than pertaining to Symond Blyth, quhilk sould pay yeirlie to him iiii lib., and serve the self. B. adj.†I. In uses indicating identity. 1. Of an item: identical with another item (mentioned or contextually implied); = same adj. 1, 2, 3. the world > relative properties > relationship > identity > [adjective] eOE tr. Bede (Tanner) iv. xxiv. 340 Wæs in þæm seolfan mynstre [sc. Hackness] sumu haligu nunne. OE (1932) cvii. 10 Hwæt, þu eart se sylfa god, þe us synnige iu adrife fram dome. OE Ælfric (Laud) 23 Hi cumað begen [sc. Enoch and Elias] togeanes Antecriste, þæt hig his leasunga alecgon þurh God, & beoð þonne ofslegen þurh ðone sylfan feond. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 5318 Tueye batayles her after in þis sulfe ȝere Hii smite & at boþe þe heþene maystres were. c1380 (1879) l. 1997 Þay schulleþ haue þe selue dome. a1400 (St. John's Cambr.) (1891) 47 We by sechith, þt by the sadnesse of that selue byleue we be..defended of alle aduercetees. a1450 Lessons of Dirige (Digby) l. 183 in J. Kail (1904) 113 He..fleeþ as shadow..Dwelleþ neuere in þe self stat of ouris. 1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil x. Prol. 31–2 The Son the self thing with the Fader is; The self substans the Haly Gaist, I wys. 1530 J. Palsgrave Epist. 7 Instructour to your noble grace in this selfe tong. 1540 in (1834) III. 206 The Satterday folowing I..arryved at Tryme, whiche selffe day Occhonor invading thEnglishe pale, burnte Kyldare. 1563 Comm. Pr. & Sacram. 149 b To pray commonly is for a multitude to aske one & the selfe thyng with one voyce [etc.]. 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe 285 b [He] was requited with the selfe trechery that he offered before. 1594 W. Shakespeare iv. ii. 122 Hee is your brother Lords, sensiblie fed Of that selfe bloud that first gaue life to you. View more context for this quotation ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer v. 379 Pluto sustaind no lesse By that selfe man, and by a shaft of equall bitternesse. 1632 W. Lithgow ix. 387 I neuer saw any of that selfe Nation, to begge bread. 1678 T. Hotchkis xxix. 222 The pardon of his sins, which is indeed..the self thing in effect with Justification. eOE (Royal) (1865) i. xxxi. 72 Wiþ swile genim gate tyrdlu on scearpum ecede gesoden & on selfe wisan on gedon. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 1305 (MED) Enne sune he hafde bi seoluan his quene. 1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith (1870) 14 (MED) Þe to torchis, eueri day in þe ȝer, schullen ben light and brennynge at þe heye messe at selue auter. a1400 (?c1300) (Royal) (1879) l. 563 On selue manere. 1599 T. Nashe 39 As he was troubled with the falling sicknesse, in his life time, in selfe manner it tooke him in his mounting vp to heauen. 1623 44 In selfe manner (most renowned Soveraigne) stand the Kings of the West Indies with the Spaniards. c1300 (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 416 (MED) If hi beoth furst desordeyned for thulke silve dede, And siththe thurf dom to dethe ido, hit nere noȝt wel to rede. ?c1335 in W. Heuser (1904) 103 No no tre in erþ so fast..Þat ne sal adun to-berst Þilk silue dai, er hit be niȝt. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 22948 O þat ilk seluin euen. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville (Vitell.) l. 20934 The same sylue carpenter. a1500 (a1460) (1994) I. xxviii. 371 Thou grauntt vs for to se The self body and the same, The which that died on tre. 1526 Rom. ii. 1 For thou that iudgest doest euen the same silfe thynges. 1543 L j b This coniunction..is the very selfe thing, whiche is signified..by [etc.]. 1606 L. Bryskett 80 Two gentlemen, subiect to the selfe and same lawes. 1655 W. Robertson 172 In both those verses the very self root..jasar, is used. 1700 H. Layton ii. 157 These [Faculties] will make the rising Person altogether the very self and same Person with that which died. II. In descriptive uses indicating the distinctive or uniform nature of a thing. 2. the world > matter > colour > state or mode of having colour > [adjective] > monochrome 1562 in J. Raine (1853) 152 Blacke woulle, xx s. Selblacke woulle, xij s. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny II. xxxii. vii. 439 In a peece of selfe russet cloth (such as is made of blacke wooll as it came in the fleece from the sheepe). 1651 R. Williams 138 Take Walwort and Waybred, Self-green Housleek, and Smallage, of each a like much. 1775 6 July advt. Likewise 18 different Sorts of yellow grounded Carnations.., and Self-Yellows, the most curious Flowers in England. 1851 May 71 A third [prize], to Mr. Sharp, for one [sc. seedling] named Purity, a self-white. 1898 6 Aug. 378/2 The chinchillas or self-silvers [i.e. cats]; the latter is undoubtedly the correct name... The self-silvers are a fine collection. 1905 12 July 3/2 The border carnation Miss Willmott, a beautiful self brick-red flower of a quite distinct shade. 1906 10 May 2/1 Not in one self-tint, not spotted, but in tiny squares. 1920 T. A. Coward 2nd Ser. 262 A wide pectoral band, which in younger birds is almost self brown, but in those a little older is formed of brown streaks and blotches. 2009 (Nexis) 7 Apr. 44 Upholsteries, bedding and accessories layered with self tones. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [adjective] > of carnations the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > [adjective] > having flowers or blossom > with specific colouring or marking 1833 Oct. 190 The first box contained 24 varieties of Carnations.., the third 24 ditto of foreign Picotees with yellow grounds, and the fourth 18 blooms of Self Carnations, of various shades. 1871 Mar. 66 A bright scarlet self flower of a fine hue of colour, and the flowers of exquisite shape. 1902 29 Mar. 4/3 A new variety of self carnation. 1930 R. A. Fisher vii. 165 In rats, the hooded (black and white) pattern is a simple recessive to the ‘self’ or ‘solid’ coloration. 1950 7 Jan. 22/7 The ‘self’ pigeon..has a solid color while the ‘barred’ has a blue background with black bars across the wing. 2010 Feb. 88/4 (advt.) Persians. Red, Cream, Black, Blue, Tortie, Blue-Cream colours in Cameo, Smoke, Self patterns. the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > [adjective] > by origin in place > detached the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > features of stratum or vein > [adjective] > isolated material within 1747 W. Hooson sig. Q4 Many times a Vein will carry two Ribbs, and softness between them, and often self Lumps. 1824 J. Mander 60 A self rock or stone that often lies in the middle of a vein so as to cut or divide it into two branches. 1829 S. Glover I. 49 Large stones, rounded by attrition, are called bolders; but if they retain the original shape and angles of the block, they are called self-stones. 1855 J. Phillips Gloss. Self-stone, blocks of stone lying detached at, or not far below, the surface. A north of England term sometimes applied to solitary boulders. 1938 R. L. Sherlock & B. Smith Gypsum & Anhydrite 42 in 3 (Mem. Geol. Surv.) Red marl with self lumps of gypsum. 4. society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [adjective] > other types of part 1776 J. Wedgwood Let. 13 Feb. in (1965) 192 His sale was chiefly in Cyphers... He makes them chiefly with self shanks. Fires them in other peoples Ovens. 1854 2 Dec. 2/1 (advt.) Gentlemen's Large size, Scotch Gingham, Umbrellas, self-handles, 2s. 1888 A. M. Bell 19 The second is a solid tool with a self-handle and is well able to make holes in wood. 1892 19 Feb. 4/7 (advt.) Buttons with self shanks, Buttons to sew through. 1918 17 Oct. 81/1 Recommending self-covers for catalogues, booklets, and house-organs. 1939 Apr. 127 a/2 (advt.) The new Nicholson ‘Handy’ File—easily recognized by its brilliant orange self-handle. 1999 17 52/1 The ‘birdcage’ button has..a four-way cage-like self shank. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [adjective] > trimmings or ornamentation 1866 July 61/1 Flat bands, wadded ones, and fancy trimmings shaped like shells or flowers are the styles the self-trimmings afford. 1896 29 Feb. Fancy percale shirts, self collar and cuffs at $1. 1904 5 May 8/3 Finished with self-ruffles edged with narrow lace. 1942 22 Feb. s5/1 Maid of honour was Miss Dorothy Cayce..who was gowned in yellow chiffon with a torso waist with self trim. 1960 21 Jan. 14/4 Jackets had either let-in or low-placed self belts. 1979 13 Feb. 15/1 (advt.) Soft shirt dress..—no waist seams and self belt. 1981 4 Apr. 20/1 Frocks were superbly styled with front or side pleats, self sashes,..and puffed sleeves. 2007 27 Aug. b1 (advt.) The self collar is accented by the engineered stripe detail in the inserts under the arms. society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > archer's weapons > [adjective] > attributes of bow 1801 T. Roberts 135 Back'd bows..were deemed so much preferable to self-bows, that [etc.]. 1840 G. A. Hansard 344 In selecting a bow, whether backed or self, the modern archer has little occasion to exercise critical acumen. 1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. I. 40/2 [Archery] Bows are called ‘Self’ if made of one piece of wood, and ‘Backed’ if made of two or more strips of wood glued together. Self-bows are generally made of yew or lance, though the term as applied to those made of the former wood is misleading, as they are almost invariably spliced at the handle. 1923 Mar. 16/1 Self bows are more expensive, but hardly enough better to justify their purchase. 2011 D. Howard iii. 53 The shorter composite bow was easier to manage from within a chariot while a longer self bow would have been more awkward. the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > whisky > [adjective] > not blended 1887 23 Apr. 2/2 (advt.) The products of the distilleries are well known on the market, and are largely used for blending and as self whiskies. 1904 20 Aug. 5/2 In the market for self-whiskies there has been a pronounced want of activity. 1916 15 Feb. 4/6 For drinking alone the self malt whiskies have not been so much in favour as they formerly were. 1958 27 June 838/1 It would have been before the days of proprietary whiskies; it would be interesting to know which ‘single’ or ‘self’ whisky he used and its strength. 2014 I. Buxton & P. S. Hughes ii. 78 The overwhelming majority of sales were in standard blended whiskies..and, outside of Scotland, ‘self’ or single malt whiskies were little known. †III. In uses related to sense A. 3. a1586 Sir P. Sidney in Sir P. Sidney & Countess of Pembroke tr. (1963) xxxv. 77 Lett their sly witts unwares destruction gett Fall in self pitt, be caught in their own nett. a1586 Sir P. Sidney (1590) i. i. sig. B3 A thing which floted drawing nearer and nearer to the banke; but rather by the fauourable working of the Sea, then by any selfe industrie. 1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero 163 A people hauing many selfe fashions and strange kinds of behauior differing from the rest. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. xi. 36 His Fiend-like Queene; Who (as 'tis thought) by selfe and violent hands, Tooke off her life. View more context for this quotation 1654 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. Bentivoglio 316 He considered that many Towns in Picardy were under the self Forces of Spain. C. n. I. Senses related to the pronoun. 1. In uses where the noun is used to express the functions of the pronoun. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > [noun] > individuality or selfhood > self > itself a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1965) Wisd. xiii. 16 Beholdinge to it: witinge for it may not helpen þeself. 1402 in J. Slater (Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Edinb.) (1952) No. 55 Efter as the obligacion thar apon made proportis in the self and gif it hapnys the forsaid [etc.]. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 24 In Egipte er bot fewe castelles for þe cuntree es strang ynogh of þe self. R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle 107 For fayrnes soyne is lufyd, & qwhen it felis þe self lofyd, lightly it is chirischyd. 1475 in 3rd Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1872) App. 418/1 in (C. 673) XXXIII. 337 The dowme..is false, and rottyn in the self, be cause it is gyffyn expresse in the contrare of the cursse of comone law. 1491–2 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1491 §7. m. 3 It is a doubte whedir the seid .v. marc be parcell of the maner of Haveryng, or a somme by the self and no parcell of the seid maner. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) iv. §6. 16 The offrand of rightwisnes is a sorowful gast, punyschand the self [?c1400 Sidney Sussex it self] for synne. 1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil i. Pref. 119 Nocht for our toung is in the selfin scant. 1525 R. Sampson in H. Ellis (1846) 3rd Ser. I. 355 And as concerning the interception off the lettirs they esteme it, Sir, for a very grevos matir, as well for the deade off the selff, as the rumor that schuld aryse off the sam to the enemies. 1526 W. Bonde iii. sig. a*iiiv But this hye ioye and iubile of the spirite..can nat be expressed with tonge, as it is in the selfe, but the effecte that it leaueth behynde it, sheweth..what it was. 1580 in T. Thomson (1840) II. 453 The haill Assemblie of the Kirk..declares the samein pretendit office [of bishop]..vnlaufull in the selfe. a1605 R. Bannatyne (1836) 56 Becaus I sie..my voce is not able to straicht the self vnto the earis of the multitud heir convenit, I wilbe content [etc.]. 1605 sig. E4 To so hatefull and vnheard of inuention, there can be no greater enemy then the selfe. c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas i. in (1898) I. 470 The subtle air..In solide substance did the self congeale. 1658 J. Durham 77 It is both an excellent thing in the self, and withall a mans own. a1400 (a1325) (Gött.) l. 15626 (MED) For þe mekil drede of dede, his hali self [Vesp flesche, Trin. Cambr. body] all suett. a1450 (Vesp.) (1902) l. 577 Oure awn self we sal deny, And folow oure lord god al-myghty. 1534 sig. O.vi That we moughte euer fele euen the thy very selfe to be oure presente medyator. 1576 G. Pettie 9 One of so highe a calling as your sweet self. 1587 W. Gifford in (1908) 5 143 Premised commendations to your good self & to the bulchen my cousin. 1596 E. Spenser vi. vii. sig. Ff And eeke that angry foole..Did with his smarting toole Oft whip her dainty selfe . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. ii. 96 But for my single selfe, I had as liefe not be, as [etc.] . View more context for this quotation 1651 Stanhope in To Author But why translate, gild, hatch, why not appear Thy solid self. 1690 J. Norris 46 There are some Men..that could..see the whole World in Flames without any concern, were but their own little selves secure from the Ruin. 1732 B. Mandeville 39 There is nothing which he has so constantly before his eyes as his own dear self. 1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Antiq. Jews xix. i, in tr. Josephus 614 He lies now dead, as perishing by his own self. 1745 64 Entertaining them in a most florid Manner with the sovereign Virtues of his Pills, Plaisters, and Self. 1749 C. Wesley (new ed.) I. i. 41 'Till He his glorious Self reveals, The Veil is on my Heart. 1816 W. Scott II. ix. 246 We'll gang quietly about our job our twa sells, and naebody the wiser for't. 1824 Ld. Byron ciii. 115 Their hideous wives, their horrid selves and dresses. 1846 Ld. Tennyson iii Who..strain to make an inch of room For their sweet selves. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato I. 223 If the discussion were confined to your two selves. 1884 C. F. Woolson in Feb. 375/2 The installment of our twelve selves in these..carriages. 1921 10 July ii. 4/3 The President has just called together some 600 ‘estimators,’..with his own self in the chair, to listen to an address by Budget Director Dawes. 1931 1 Sept. 303/1 Not a single person, other than their three selves of the 50 odd souls aboard the Kwongsang, managed to escape. 2003 C. Whytock vii. 53 The first bell goes and we have to get our beautiful selves to our classroom. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 12248 A tregetur i hope he be, Or elles godds self [Fairf. god him-self] es he. 1473 in T. Dickson (1877) I. 33 Deliuerit to the Qwenis selue be Andro Balfour. 1536 T. Wriothesley in (1830) I. 490 His Grace..liketh both thordre therof, and the thinges self, excedingly wel. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus f. 141 For that thei abused the kynges selfes. 1590 E. Spenser iii. iii. sig. Ee4v Ne shall the Saxons selues all peaceably Enioy the crowne. 1607 J. Cowell sig. Ggg2/1 Purgation (Purgatio) is a cleering of a mans selfe from a crime, whereof he is probably and publiquely suspected. 1637 J. Milton 13 And Wisdoms selfe Oft seeks to sweet retired Solitude. 1667 J. Milton ix. 388 She..like a Wood-Nymph..of Delia's Traine, Betook her to the Groves, but Delia's self In gate surpass'd. View more context for this quotation 1713 A. Pope 10 Not Neptune's self from all his Floods receives A wealthier Tribute, than to thine he gives. 1786 R. Burns 198 Yet crooning to a body's sel, Does weel eneugh. 1815 W. Scott v. iv. 177 'Tis Edith's self!—her speechless woe, Her form, her looks, the secret show! 1816 J. Wilson i. i. 405 Though dark his brain It has, thou seest, an heavenly visitor That comfort brings when reason's self is gone. 1837 T. Carlyle II. i. i. 8 Nay, Sire, were it not better you, your Majesty's self, took the children? 1855 C. Kingsley xvi Elizabeth's self consecrated her solemnly. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus xliv. 21 Not me That read the volume—no, but him, The man's vain self. 1903 4 Sept. 24/1 No deeper reverence might the rabble pay If the king's self went forth upon his way. 1918 July 783 The stranger rose and he bent his head To Madam's hand as he softly said: ‘'T is the general's self whom you have fed.’ 1946 J. Masefield 443 The Khalif's self went by, A grand young bird of rapine with a hawk-look in his eye. the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [noun] > friend > second self or kindred spirit 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. (new ed.) f. 105 In wealth and wo thy frend, an other self to thee. 1605 sig. C4v Welcome my selfe, of selfe. 1671 H. M. tr. Erasmus 4 Heavens grant you a safe return. God keep thee my half self. 1681 C. Beale Pocket-bk. in H. Walpole (1763) III. i. 76 My dear heart and self and son Charles. a1700 T. Ken Hymnotheo in (1721) III. 115 But when the Babe breaks out into the Light, Soon as her little self is in her sight,..She feels a Mother's Bowels yearn within. 1763 C. Johnstone (new ed.) II. 133 The tender connexions of nature, which, as it were, multiply a man into many selfs for the safety of each dear particular of whom, his anxiety is greater than for his own. 1827 T. Hood Plea Midsummer Fairies xliv, in 23 We shall not die nor disappear, But in these other selves, ourselves succeed. 1858 A. P. Stanley I. iii. 89 Our ‘great self’, the school. ?1927 D. Thompson Diary 9 Sept. in (1963) Oct. 128/1 The real woman looks for the man whom she feels to be her male self. 1931 E. Wilson ii. 45 The other self, the anti-self or the antithetical self. 1994 (Nexis) 25 Apr. c4 Watching our miniature selves endure the same bad moments life held for us is too much to ask of loving parents. 2005 J. Urquhart (2006) 277 Annabelle..had always believed that Marie was her other, more beautiful self. 3. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > [noun] > individuality or selfhood > self > one of several conflicting 1595 E. Spenser Amoretti xlv, in sig. C8 And in my selfe, my inward selfe I meane, Most liuely lyke behold your semblant trew. 1661 A. Burgess lxi. 273 Remember that you have a two-fold self, a carnal self, and a spiritual self; one saith one thing, and another saith another thing. 1703 W. Burkitt Mark xii. 34 Every man may, yea, ought to love himself, not his sinful self, but his natural self, especially his spiritual self, the new nature in him. 1849 J. Stephen I. Taylor in II. 389 So, indeed, resolved the Self inhabiting one of the phrenological hemispheres within me. But the resolution was ultimately reversed by the superior energy of the Self who reigned over the opposite hemisphere. 1867 G. MacDonald I. vii. 209 Whatever your lowest self and not your best self may like. 1867 G. Smith (1882) 45 Our nation..had to go through greater trials, and be thrown more upon its nobler self, before it could deserve victory. 1908 R. Bagot x. 116 Sonia di San Vico was asking herself whether this were love... For the first time in her life that other self of hers gave no satisfactory reply. 1940 10 Feb. 68/4 (advt.) The facts of Scott's life and career are already available in other books; here the development of his character and inner self stand revealed. 1958 11 May 13/2 His tough side..will urge him to let the strike go on and on... His wiser self will recognise the grave risks he will be taking if he pursues so ruthless a course. 2011 A. Mars-Jones i. 55 I managed never to say ‘I told you so’ to Ansell or anyone else... I'm capable of suppressing my baser self on special occasions. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > [noun] > individuality or selfhood > self > at a particular time 1600 W. Shakespeare v. v. 58 Presume not that I am the thing I was, For God doth know, so shall the world perceiue, That I haue turnd away my former selfe . View more context for this quotation 1643 2 Nay, be not like your old selfe, who did therefore detest the Liturgy and Hierarchy, because 'twas common to us with Papists. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil 101 In vain he burns..And in himself his former self requires. View more context for this quotation a1711 T. Ken Divine Love in (1838) 282 My duty of loving those best, which either in blood are nearest my natural self, or in grace nearest my Christian self. 1746 P. Francis tr. Horace in P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace i. x. 66 If e'r, forgetful of my former Self, I toil to raise unnecessary Pelf. 1841 C. Fox 30 Sept. (1972) 115 Dr. Calvert..was quite his old self, talking on his old subjects in his old way. 1858 O. W. Holmes ix. 253 How pleasant it would be, if in another state of being we could have shapes like our former selves for playthings. 1910 ‘M. Rutherford’ (ed. 2) 268 The self of two hours before seemed to confront him. 1975 H. Fleetwood x. 177 You seem quite like your old self again. 2016 (Nexis) 2 July (Weekend section) 22 I think my younger self would be astonished by what I went on to achieve. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > [noun] > individuality or selfhood > self 1826 B. Disraeli I. i. x. 63 Self is the only person whom we know nothing about. society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > self-interest > [noun] > a) personal aim or object(s) 1640 T. Hooker 35 What is selfe?..When a man placeth a kinde of supremacy or excellency in himselfe, or any thing hee doth or hath besides Christ; wherein soever we place sufficiency or excellency besides in Christ, that is selfe. a1646 J. Burroughes (1647) v. 77 A man that is acted by self in holy duties, he regards holy duties but little, save in time of extremity. a1680 S. Charnock (1682) 70 Self is the great Anti-Christ and Anti-God in the World. 1725 I. Watts ii. iii. 323 Were it not for this Influence of Self, and a Bigotry to our own Tenets, we could hardly imagin that so many..wicked..Principles should pretend to support and defend themselves by the Gospel of Christ. 1782 F. Burney IV. viii. iii. 197 But self will still predominate. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Locksley Hall in (new ed.) II. 95 Love..Smote the chord of Self, that, trembling, pass'd in music out of sight. 1855 C. Kingsley I. ii. 44 One who had long since learned to have no self, and to live not only for her children, but in them. 1859 ‘G. Eliot’ III. vi. liv. 315 She's better than I am—there's less o' self in her, and pride. 1870 J. B. Mozley (1877) iii. 67 This respect to self and its ultimate good pertains to the very nobility of man's nature. 1906 C. Mansfield xix Self is their god and Selfishness their religion. 1955 22 June 18/7 Have mercy upon us for our undue concern with self and with unimportant things. 2004 C. Tiegreen 4 Jan. Those who do not follow God must follow their own internal logic. And that logic is a mess of distorted perspectives, most often driven by self. the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > philosophy of reflection of self > [noun] > the self or the ego the mind > mental capacity > consciousness > subjectivity, relation to self > [noun] > system of subjective being > subjective being, self 1641 J. Short 190 Thou heart-rein-searching, spirit-pondering God, Turne mine eyes inward, teach my head to plod; To looke to what thou look'st, the maine, the man, The soule, the selfe. a1674 T. Traherne Nature in (1966) 33 A Secret self I had enclosd within, That was not bounded with my Clothes or Skin. a1682 Sir T. Browne (1716) i. 25 The noblest Digladiation is in the Theater of our selves. 1694 J. Locke (new ed.) ii. xxvii. 185 Self is that conscious thinking thing, whatever Substance, made up of Spiritual, or Material, Simple, or Compounded, it matters not, which is sensible, or conscious of Pleasure and Pain,..and so is concern'd for it self, as far as that consciousness extends. 1694 J. Locke (new ed.) ii. xxvii. 181 Since consciousness always accompanies thinking, and 'tis that, that makes every one be, what he calls self. 1734 G. Berkeley Three Dialogues Hylas & Philonous (rev. ed.) iii, in (new ed.) 297 I, one and the same self, perceive both Colours and Sounds. a1834 S. T. Coleridge (1836) I. 351 The unselfishness of self-love in the hopes and fears of religion consists..secondly,—in the abstract and, as it were, unindividual nature of the idea, self, or soul, when conceived apart from our present living body and the world of the senses. 1865 J. S. Mill 207 Reid seems to have imagined that if I myself am only a series of feelings, the proposition that I have any fellow-creatures, or that there are any selves except mine, is but words without a meaning. 1871 G. Meredith III. xviii. 282 In reality the busy little creature within me, whom we call self, was digging pits for comfort to flow in, of any kind, in any form. 1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. VIII. 267 Insanity has been already defined as defect or disorder of the process of adjustment of self to circumstances. 1909 G. K. Chesterton iii. 63 You cannot call up any wilder vision than a city in which men ask themselves if they have any selves. 1936 45 28 That the Self is a substance is a proposition which has been asserted and denied many times in the history of philosophy. 2003 U. Thiel in D. Garber & M. Ayers II. v. xxvi. 880 Pascal and La Rochefoucauld..were somewhat sceptical about reason as a means of grasping the nature of the self and instead emphasised the constant changes that human beings undergo and the elusiveness of the self as an object of enquiry. 1910 9 74 In plants D and F, however, the presence of the factor M is not directly apparent,..but becomes evident in the F1 selfs and crosses. 1927 No. 127. 57 Crosses between yellow-fruited varieties and selfs of yellows produced no colored variations. 1952 P. C. Mangelsdorf in J. W. Gowan xi. 181 The latter [sc. varieties] were in all cases first-generation selfs. 2004 165 397/2 In selfs and reciprocal crosses.., pollen grains germinated immediately after contacting the stigma. 1940 F. M. Burnet ii. 29 In some way or other the living substance of the amoeba can distinguish between the chemical structure characteristic of ‘self’ and any sufficiently different chemical structure which is recognized as ‘not self’. 1947 9 630 Burnet..has supposed that the basic mechanism consists in the recognition by the tissues of the organism, of the difference between ‘self’ and ‘not-self’, followed by measures designed to eliminate the ‘not-self’. 1967 W. O. Weigle i. 1 The acquisition of an immunologic unresponsive state to self is not genetically determined, but is acquired early in life before maturation of the immune mechanisms. 1987 May 70/3 If a foreign peptide matches the sequence at the crucial sites..the T cell sees the sequence as ‘self’ and does not respond. 2016 27 Feb. a6 One of the trickiest jobs for the immune system is to figure out what is ‘self’—a normal cell that belongs in the body—and what is ‘non-self’—something dangerous that doesn't belong. II. Senses related to the adjective in senses of branch B. II. 8. In uses connected with sense B. 2b. the world > matter > colour > state or mode of having colour > [noun] > monochrome the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > [noun] > characterized by colouring or marking 1817 28 June Dark ranunculusses... striped... spotted, mottled, &c... selfs. 1869 11 149 Some of her characters are too much what a florist would call ‘selfs’—all one colour. 1892 27 Aug. 194/2 The majority of present-day kinds [of Carnations]—I allude chiefly to garden selfs—are..scentless. 1934 Mar. 236 (advt.) Intense blue selfs, mauve daintily edged with tan, very double pompom florets and some with three-inch florets. 1990 C. McEwen vi. 51 White selfs among the darker ones not only provide accent but tend to blend the planting together as a whole. 2001 5 May (Weekend Review section) 13/4 The flowers of modern pinks can be ‘selfs’, that is, composed of only one colour. 1864 19 Oct. 1/4 (advt.) Cloth Mantles and Paletots, Tartan Plaids and Shawls in Selfs and Clans. 1886 C. Cumberland ii. 16 Many years since I had a self of the smooth red brown. 1930 R. A. Fisher vii. 165 Rats of both selected lines were bred back to unselected selfs. 1978 31 Mar. 2/1 (advt.) ‘Dereta’ coats, superb collection of tweeds and selfs in a variety of fabrics, designs and colours. 2010 Feb. 86/2 (advt.) Small friendly breeder of British Shorthairs... Selfs in Blue, Chocolate & Lilac. Blue Bicolours & Blue Spotties. society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > archer's weapons > [noun] > bow > types of bow 1856 H. A. Ford iii. 14 Ascham..mentions none other than selfs. 1894 H. Walrond in C. J. Longman et al. (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) xvii. 301 All bows require to be treated with care—backed bows, perhaps, even more than selfs. 1903 July 40/2 Their bows were ‘selfs’—that is, made of a single straight piece of wood. 1959 July 55/1 Featuring POMAC Shafts P.O. Cedar Selfs...$2.40 doz. matched. D. adv.the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly 1907 W. Jekyll 259 Not if the pork even purchase self [= not even if it was bought pork]. 1958 V. S. Naipaul vi. 101 Kill me now self. 1959 P. Marshall (1981) iii. iv. 112 I not only did it but I'd do it tomorrow-self if I had to. 1987 M. Haynes 212 Yuh mad self: mad is what you are. 1990 A. Johnson in S. Brown 110 I going now, tonight self. Phrasesthe world > relative properties > relationship > identity > [adjective] ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 0 (MED) Sciencez forsoþ bene made by additamentz [L. additamenta]; It is noȝt forsoþ possible by one self man for to bygynne and for to ende. a1492 W. Caxton tr. (1495) i. cviii. f. cxxxv/2 He commaunded that in one selfe mesure & weighte all manere of marchaundyses sholde be solde. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. Auth. Pref. 1 Albeit, that mortall folke are marueylously separated,..yet are they..compact togyder by thistographier, as it were, the dedes of one selfe cyte. 1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione iv. sig. Uv.iv And it may be said that Good and beawtifull be after a sorte one selfe thinge. 1598 J. Florio Germano, a brother of one selfe father and mother. 1607 R. C. tr. H. Estienne 131 They will not quite despaire, that one selfe man should be a lawyer and a Christian. 1624 F. Quarles Med. xvii. N 3 Whirling like fire-balles in their restlesse spheares, At one selfe-instant moouing seuerall wayes. 1655 W. Wood 3 Yee that are Brothers, Sons to one self Father, See that yee keep the League of love. 1876 Ld. Tennyson v. ii. 161 Of one self-stock at first, Make them again one people—Norman, English; And English, Norman.] 1546 J. Heywood i. viii. sig. C For I dyd it my selfe: and selfe do, selfe haue. 1579 S. Gosson f. 29 Selfe doe, selfe haue, they whette their swords against themselues. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch 99 You are the cause of all this your owne selfe; and selfe do, selfe have. 1659 J. Harris 34 Yet although you lay all these foundations to contract debts, you are loth to have any hand in the payment: but soft and fair, self do, self have; if you will have Princes you must maintain them. 1707 J. Stevens tr. F. de Quevedo 394 But self-do self-have, for sharp Grapes cannot make sweet Wine. 1747 S. Richardson I. xxxii. 220 If there should be any misunderstanding between one of them and you, we should all interpose..: But with the other, it would be self-do self-have. 1874 Sept. 373 Act on the stout old maxim, ‘Self do, self have!’ Assistance will assuredly follow such manly and self-reliant action. 1899 J. Spence 214 The universal truth that whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap, is very curtly expressed in four syllables—‘Sel' dö, sel' hae’. a1653 H. Binning (1676) xi. 146 To remove the guilt of it, and then the self of it. 1665 in J. Hunter (1918) II. 62 That I knew the airt of the physiognome of a loun, for ye know that a guiltie conscience bleaks the selfe of it. 1812 56 A sow that has been the waur o' drink ance'll tak gude tent no to fill the sell o't fu a secont time. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in 2nd Ser. I. 221 I ken nae friend..that's been sae like a father to him as the sell o' ye, neibor Deans. 1821 Nov. 441/1 He..never had the power owther to de a good turn to the sel' o' him, nor ony yean that belwonged to him. 1843 4 Feb. 18/3 So, Bill, says we, what if you are the lady's husband the sell o' thee? 1884 5 June 27/1 I found Edinbro the sel o' it in a pairfect ferment. 1896 D. S. Meldrum 291 They sawed the sell o' them. ?1930 L. MacInnes 22 This year for neeps we jist used slag by the sell o't. 1983 W. L. Lorimer & R. L. C. Lorimer 294 At there is..ocht i the ídol the sel o it? Compounds 1908 9 July 6/3 With them are worn self-fabric shirtwaists, also untrimmed, but smartened with embroidered or plain pique belts. 1961 28 Feb. 7/4 Jacket caught at the hips by a self-fabric belt. 1969 Spring–Summer 10 Shower-resistant coat features self-fabric yoke for added protection. 2004 7 Oct. a14/1 (advt.) Draw-corded hem and self-fabric cuffs seal out snow. 1857 1 May 1/4 (advt.) Ladies' self-lance and two-piece bows. 1865 192 (advt.) Gentlemen's..Best Self Lance Bows. 1879 6 Sept. 570/1 Bows are very uncertain in quality, but the high-priced self-lance is best for general use. 1887 H. A. Ford (ed. 2) ii. 20 Self-lance bows may be procured for as little as twelve shillings. 1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. I. 40/2 [Archery] Self-yew is the dearest bow made, self-lance the cheapest. 1936 15 May 11/1 My best bow was a very old Self-lance of 28 lbs., sweet as the sweetest of honey...Next best, a cheap 36 lbs. Lemon wood. A magnificent Self-yew made by Mr. Flinton of Scarborough (40 lbs.) is out of hand at short range. 1958 Oct. 115/2 He shot on his thirteenth birthday using a lady's self-lance bow at 27lbs. draw-weight. 1835 30 Mar. 1/4 (advt.) Self lance wood bows, 12s. each. 1886 3 July 2/1 The bows sold in the toy-shops are ‘self’ lancewood. 1906 Aug. 117/1 The best all-round bow is a self-lancewood or lemonwood made of perfectly seasoned material. 1914 14 Feb. 215/1 Washaba backed with hickory, self lancewood and self lemonwood are the best bow woods for the purposes of scouting. 1933 R. P. Elmer (rev. ed.) x. 278 Self lancewood bows were priced at $1.50 to $7 and the highest priced fancy wood with hickory backing was $12.50. 2008 H. D. H. Soar iv. 127 A nicely made bow by this maker is..a ladies' weapon of self-lancewood, 60 1/2 inches in overall length, 33 pounds in draw weight, and with a light red velour handle binding. 1801 T. Roberts 135 (note) Yet many excellent archers give the preference to the self-yew-bow. 1852 1511/2 Bows of Spanish and English self-yew. 1856 H. A. Ford iii. 20 The advocates of the self-yew affirm their pet weapon to be the sweetest in use, the steadiest in hand, the most certain in cast, and the most beautiful to the eye. 1912 W. Johnson ix. 390 Modern bowyers have largely abandoned ‘self-yew’ bows. 1929 A. W. Lambert Jr. xxii. 181 This score was made with the forty-two-pound self-yew used a few weeks before at the National Tournament. 2008 H. D. H. Soar v. 153 Despite possessing an extensive collection of the work of nineteenth-century bowyers, I have just one self-yew bow by Feltham. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022). selfv. Origin: Formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymon: self-fertilize v. Etymology: Short for self-fertilize v. Compare slightly later selfing n. Chiefly Botany. the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > be or affect a flowering plant [verb (transitive)] > fertilize 1903 W. Bateson 5 Some, selfed or fertilised inter se, will give nothing but their own type. 1912 Dec. 62/1 I have from time to time endeavoured to self the individual F2 hybrids as they flowered. 1970 8 142 Rousi selfed a number of plants. 2015 R. Andrews i. 5 Grain is produced on the male plants [sc. plants of the male line], which self as well as provide pollen for the female, and this grain is harvested separately. Derivatives the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > [adjective] > characterized by pollination > self-fertilizing or fertilized 1908 1 403 Selfed pubescent plants gave 16 pubescent to 8 smooth in the F2 generation. 1977 M. Allan xv. 256 Nine of the original selfed plants had died. 2015 J. Warren iii. 45 These [sc. mechanisms that prevent self-pollination] can be built into the morphology of the flower, or more routinely, are physiological processes that block the germination or growth of selfed pollen. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022). > see alsoalso refers to : self-prefix <  pron.adj.n.adv.eOE v.1903see also |
