THEMSELVES


Meaning of THEMSELVES in English

thəmˈselvz, them-, -eu̇vz, South often -e(ə)vz pronoun plural

Etymology: obsolete English themself themselves (from Middle English thamself, theimself, themself, from tham, theim, them them + self ) + English -es

1. : those identical ones that are they : the selves that belong to them : the selves that are theirs — used (1) reflexively as object of a preposition or direct or indirect object of a verb

they keep their plans to themselves

nations that govern themselves

they are getting themselves an incinerator

(2) for emphasis in apposition with they, who, which, that, or a noun

they themselves were surprised

some who themselves were very busy nevertheless took the time to help others

postcards which themselves supply the skeleton of the message — Randall Jarrell

people that enjoy a game of bridge themselves

the teachers themselves were as glad as the pupils when the school year ended

(3) for emphasis instead of nonreflexive them as object of a preposition or direct or indirect object of a verb

their combined salaries support their children and themselves

(4) for emphasis instead of they or instead of they themselves as predicate nominative

there is someone they can always depend on and that is themselves

or in comparisons after than or as

they envied us though we were as poor as themselves

or as part of a compound subject

to get their education as themselves or their neglectful government might see fit — S.A.Allibone

or archaically or dialectally as only subject of a verb

some … can render no ill services, in recompense for what themselves required — William Wordsworth

(5) in absolute constructions

themselves bankrupt morally and economically, the landowners have sought to prevent and retard government intervention — Mario Einaudi

2. : their normal, healthy, or sane condition

both persons involved in the accident were in a state of shock for a time but soon came to themselves

: their normal, healthy, or sane selves

after a good night's rest they were themselves again

3. : himself , herself — used with a singular antecedent that is indefinite or that does not specify gender

nobody can call themselves oppressed — Leonard Wibberley

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.