Himself
/hɪmˈsɛlf/noun
The reflexive form of 'he', used to refer back to the subject of the sentence.
Did you know?In Old English, 'self' was associated with the concept of 'soul' or 'being', hinting at the deep connection between identity and self-awareness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*se-lbō
“One's own (self)”
Old English
OE
seolf
“Oneself, self, or personal essence”
Old English
OE
himself
“Reflexive pronoun meaning 'him' plus 'self' or one's own being”
Middle English
ME
himself
“Reflexive form used for emphasis or clarification of the male subject”
Modern English
Eng
himself
“Standard reflexive pronoun for masculine subjects, retaining its ancient roots.”