Definition of SELF (original) (raw)

1

a(1)

: an individual's typical character or behavior

her true self was revealed

(2)

: an individual's temporary behavior or character

b

: a person in prime condition

feel like my old self today

2

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

3

: personal interest or advantage

4

a

: the entire person of an individual

b

: the realization or embodiment of an abstraction

5

: material that is part of an individual organism

ability of the immune system to distinguish self from nonself

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun

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

Combining form

Middle English, from Old English, from self

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1903, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of self was before the 12th century