myself

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English [edit]

Alternative forms [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From me (pronoun) + self (pronoun). Later partly reinterpreted as my + self (noun).

Pronunciation [edit]

Pronoun [edit]

myself (reflexive case of I)

  1. (reflexive) Me, as direct or indirect object the speaker as the object of a verb or preposition, when the speaker is also the subject. [from 9th c.]
    I taught myself.
  2. Personally, for my part; used in apposition to I, sometimes for simple emphasis and sometimes with implicit exclusion of any others performing the activity described. [from 10th c.]
  3. Me (as the object of a verb or preposition). [from 10th c.]
    • 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 36:
      Later I realized that the ignorant man that day was not the chief but myself.
  4. (archaic) I (as the subject of a verb). [from 14th c.]
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II. 8:
      And my selfe have knowen a Gentleman, a chiefe officer of our crowne, that by right and hope of succession (had he lived unto it) was to inherit above fifty thousand crownes a yeere good land [...].

Related terms [edit]

Usage notes [edit]

  • Use where I could be used is mostly poetic or archaic, except with a coordinating conjunction, such as and.
  • Garner's Modern American Usage (2009) reports opposition to the intensifier use, especially where I could be used.
  • AP Stylebook Online (2010) reports opposition to the intensifier use as reflexive pronouns (myself) should not be used instead of objective pronouns (me).

Translations [edit]

me, reflexive case of I
in apposition with I; personally

See also [edit]

English personal pronouns
Number Person Gender Subject Objective Reflexive Possessive adjective Possessive pronoun
Singular First — I me myself my mine
Second — you,
thou (archaic)		 you,
thee (archaic)		 yourself,
thyself (archaic)
theeself (archaic)		 your,
thy (archaic)		 yours,
thine (archaic)
Third Masculine he him himself his
Feminine she her herself her hers
Neuter it itself its its (rare)
Gender-neutral they them themself their theirs
Plural First — we us ourselves our ours
Second — you,
ye (archaic)		 you yourselves your yours
Third — they them themselves their theirs
Indefinite Third — one oneself one's —

Noun [edit]

myself (plural ourselves)

  1. that being which is oneself
    I am not myself today.

Translations [edit]

that being which is oneself

Statistics [edit]

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