Myself

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /maɪˈsÉ›lf/
• Rhymes: -É›lf
• Hyphenation: my + self

Alternative forms

• myselfe archaic

Origin

From me (pronoun) + self (pronoun). Later partly reinterpreted as my + self (noun).

Full definition of myself

Pronoun

1. (reflexive) Me, as direct or indirect object the speaker as the object of a verb or preposition, when the speaker is also the subject. from 9th c.
• 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 1, Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer ‘cottage’ and if you don't look out there's likely to be some nice, lively dog taking an interest in your underpinning.”
2. I taught myself.
3. Personally, for my part; used in apposition to I, sometimes for simple emphasis and sometimes with implicit exclusion of any others performing the activity described. from 10th c.
4. Me (as the object of a verb or preposition). from 10th c.
• 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 36:Later I realized that the ignorant man that day was not the chief but myself.
5. (archaic) I (as the subject of a verb). from 14th c.
• 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II. 8:And my selfe have knowen a Gentleman, a chiefe officer of our crowne, that by right and hope of succession (had he lived unto it) was to inherit above fifty thousand crownes a yeere good land ....
6. (informal) Either I or me.
   We still need a few volunteers for Tuesday night, so see Sarah or myself if you want to help.

Related terms

• myselves

Usage notes

Use where I could be used is mostly poetic or archaic, except with a coordinating conjunction, such as and.

Garner's Modern American Usage (2009) reports opposition to the intensifier use, especially where I could be used.

AP Stylebook Online (2010) reports opposition to the intensifier use as reflexive pronouns (myself) should not be used instead of objective pronouns (me).

Noun

1. that being which is oneselfI am not myself today.