- himself */*/*/
- weak [ɪmˈself] , strong [hɪmˈself]pronoun1) the REFLEXIVE form of ‘he', used for showing that the man, boy, or male animal that does something is also affected by what he doesWilliam slipped once, but he didn't hurt himself.[/ex]That man ought to be ashamed of himself.[/ex]2) used for emphasizing that you are referring to a particular man, boy, or male animal and not to anyone elseIt is said that Shakespeare himself once acted in this play.[/ex]You mean to tell me Jack built the whole cabin himself?[/ex]3) old-fashionedused in a general way for referring back to the subject of a sentence when they may be either male or femaleEveryone has to look after himself.[/ex]See:he•(all) by himself — 1) alone[/ex]I noticed Ben sitting all by himself.[/ex]
— 2) without help from anyone else
There's too much work for one man to do all by himself.[/ex](all) to himself — not sharing something with anyone else[/ex]It was the first time he'd had a room to himself.[/ex]be/feel/seem himself — to be in a normal mental or physical state[/ex]Joe felt more himself after a good night's sleep.[/ex]
Dictionary for writing and speaking English. 2014.