'self-examine' originates from the combination of 'self' and 'examine', where 'self' refers to one's own person and 'examine' means to inspect or scrutinize.

'self-examine' evolved from the Middle English word 'examinare', which meant 'to test or inspect', combined with 'self'.

Initially, it meant 'to inspect oneself', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.