self: Meaning and Definition of

self

Pronunciation: (self), [key]
— n., pl. adj., pron., pl. v. selves, selves,
—n.
  1. a person or thing referred to with respect to complete individuality: one's own self.
  2. a person's nature, character, etc.: his better self.
  3. personal interest.
    1. the ego; that which knows, remembers, desires, suffers, etc., as contrasted with that known, remembered, etc.
    2. the uniting principle, as a soul, underlying all subjective experience.
—adj.
  1. being the same throughout, as a color; uniform.
  2. being of one piece with or the same material as the rest: drapes with a self lining.
  3. the natural constituents of the body, which are normally not subject to attack by components of the immune system (contrasted with nonself&hasp;).
  4. same.
—pron.
  1. myself, himself, herself, etc.: to make a check payable to self.
—v.t., v.i.
  1. to self-pollinate.

self-

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. a combining form ofand variously used with the meanings “of the self&hasp;” (self-analysis) and “by oneself or itself&hasp;” (self-appointed); and with the meanings “to, with, toward, for, on, in oneself&hasp;” (self-complacent), “inherent in oneself or itself&hasp;” (self-explanatory), “independent” (self-government), and “automatic” (self-operating).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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