/ wʌnˈself; NAmE / pronoun ( formal )
1.
(the reflexive form of one ) used as the object of a verb or preposition when 'one' is the subject of the verb or is understood as the subject :
One has to ask oneself what the purpose of the exercise is.
One cannot choose freedom for oneself without choosing it for others.
It is difficult to make oneself concentrate for long periods.
2.
used to emphasize one :
One likes to do it oneself.
HELP NOTE : One and oneself are very formal words and now sound old-fashioned. It is much more usual to use you and yourself for referring to people in general and I and myself when the speaker is referring to himself or herself.
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IDIOMS
- be oneself
- (all) by oneself
- (all) to oneself