n. & adj.
--n. (pl. selves)
1. a person's or thing's own individuality or essence (showed his true self).
2 a person or thing as the object of introspection or reflexive action (the consciousness of self).
3 a one's own interests or pleasure (cares for nothing but self). b concentration on these (self is a bad guide to happiness).
4 Commerce or colloq. myself, yourself, himself, etc. (cheque drawn to self; ticket admitting self and friend).
5 used in phrases equivalent to myself, yourself, himself, etc. (his very self; your good selves).
6 (pl. selfs) a flower of uniform colour, or of the natural wild colour.
--adj.
1. of the same colour as the rest or throughout.
2 (of a flower) of the natural wild colour.
3 (of colour) uniform, the same throughout.
Phrases and idioms:
one's better self one's nobler impulses. one's former (or old) self oneself as one formerly was.
Etymology: OE f. Gmc