noun

self

SEHLF

noun

A person's own individual character, personality, or identity.

"Travel helped her discover a more confident self."

"He felt like his old self again after the holiday."

pron

Used informally in place of "myself," "himself," "herself," etc., especially in casual notes or business shorthand.

"Cheque payable to self."

How to Use Self

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe core identity or personality that makes someone who they are.

Common pairings

true self sense of self former self

selfed past tense, selves plural, selves plural, selfs plural, selfs singular

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Travel helped her discover a more confident _____.

From Old English self/seolf, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "one's own," shared with German selbst and Dutch zelf.

cyberself herself himself itself myself non-self one's self oneself ourselves technoself themselves thyself

nonself outcross

myself ourselves itself himself herself themselves thyself themself

elf shelf myself itself himself herself thyself hisself yourself themself bookshelf

cyberself herself himself itself myself non-self one's self oneself ourselves technoself themselves thyself