Dictionary
self
Pronunciation: (self), [key]
—n., pl. selves,
—adj., pron., pl. selves,
—v.
—
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.
4. Philos.
a. the ego; that which knows, remembers, desires, suffers, etc., as contrasted with that known, remembered, etc.
b. 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. Immunol.the natural constituents of the body, which are normally not subject to attack by components of the immune system (contrasted with
nonself).
4. Obs.same.
—
pron.
myself, himself, herself, etc.:
to make a check payable to self.
—
v.t., v.i.
to self-pollinate.
self-
a combining form of
self and variously used with the meanings “of the self” (
self-analysis) and “by oneself or itself” (
self-appointed); and with the meanings “to, with, toward, for, on, in oneself” (
self-complacent), “inherent in oneself or itself” (
self-explanatory), “independent” (
self-government), and “automatic” (
self-operating).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
