himself

[ him-self; medially im-self ]

pronoun

1. an emphatic appositive of him or he ¹:

   He himself spoke to the men.

2. a reflexive form of him:

   He cut himself.

3. (used in absolute constructions):

   Himself the soul of honor, he included many rascals among his intimates.

4. (used as the object of a preposition or as the direct or indirect object of a verb):

   The old car had room only for himself and three others.

5. (used in comparisons after as or than ):

   His wife is as stingy as himself.

6. his normal or customary self:

   He is himself again.

7. Irish English. a man of importance, especially the master of the house:

   Himself will be wanting an early dinner.

himself

/ ɪmˈsɛlf; hɪmˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of he or him
   2. (intensifier)

      the king himself waved to me

2. preceded by a copula his normal or usual self

   he seems himself once more

3. the man of the house

   how is himself?

Usage Note

See myself.

Word History and Origins

Origin of himself¹

before 900; Middle English him selven, Old English him selfum, dative singular of hē self he himself; him, self

Word History and Origins

Origin of himself¹

Old English him selfum, dative singular of hē self; see he ¹, self

Example Sentences

Holding out for a bigger payday may not have worked out so well in the case of Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava, who found himself without a team after reportedly asking for a multimillion raise.

From Los Angeles Times

Since Watson is a sucker for enigmas, he surrounds himself with a team of young experts, each of whom is defined by one of their own.

From Salon

To support himself, he worked as — what else? — a personal trainer at a West Hollywood gym.

From Los Angeles Times

Then he transferred to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame for the spring semester seeking to challenge himself.

From Los Angeles Times

He said that for himself and others, being unable to catch salmon has meant “insane financial hardship, stressing of your family’s relationships, everything.”

From Los Angeles Times