Langimage
English

himself

|him/self|

A2

/hɪmˈsɛlf/

self-reference

Etymology
Etymology Information

'himself' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'himself,' where 'him' meant 'him' and 'self' meant 'self.'

Historical Evolution

'himself' changed from the Old English word 'himself' and has remained largely unchanged in modern English.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'himself' as a reflexive pronoun, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Pronoun 1

used to refer to a male person or animal previously mentioned as the subject of the clause.

He made the decision himself.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Pronoun 2

used for emphasis to refer again to a male person or animal.

The president himself attended the meeting.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35