I. ˈself, Southern also ˈsef pronoun
Etymology: 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
Date: before 12th century
: myself , himself , herself
a check payable to self
II. adjective
Date: before 12th century
1. obsolete : identical , same
2. obsolete : belonging to oneself : own
3.
a. : having a single character or quality throughout ; specifically : having one color only
a self flower
b. : of the same kind (as in color, material, or pattern) as something with which it is used
self trimming
III. noun
( plural selves ˈselvz, Southern also ˈsevz)
Date: 13th century
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 (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
IV. verb
Date: 1905
transitive verb
1. : inbreed
2. : to pollinate with pollen from the same flower or plant
intransitive verb
: to undergo self-pollination