self
(sɛlf) n,
pl selves (
sɛlvz)
1. the distinct individuality or identity of a person or thing
2. a person's usual or typical bodily make-up or personal characteristics: she looked her old self again.
3. good self good selves rare a polite way of referring to or addressing a person (or persons), used following your, his, her, or their
4. one's own welfare or interests: he only thinks of self.
5. (Philosophy) an individual's consciousness of his own identity or being
6. (Philosophy) the self philosophy that which is essential to an individual, esp the mind or soul in Cartesian metaphysics; the ego
7. (Breeds) a bird, animal, etc, that is a single colour throughout, esp a self-coloured pigeon
pronnot standard myself, yourself, etc: seats for self and wife.
adj8. of the same colour or material:
a dress with a self belt. See also
self-coloured 9. obsolete the same
[Old English seolf; related to Old Norse sjālfr, Gothic silba, Old High German selb]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
self
(sɛlf)
n.andpron., pl. selves,
adj. 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. the subject of experience as contrasted with the object of experience; ego.
5. any of the natural constituents of the body that are normally not subject to attack by components of the immune system.
pron. 6. myself, herself, etc.: to make a check payable to self.
adj. 7. being the same throughout; uniform.
8. being of one piece with or the same material as the rest.
9. Obs. same.
[before 900; Old English self, selfa, c. Old Frisian, Old Saxon self, Old High German selb, Old Norse sjalfr, Gothic silba]
self-
a combining form of
self, appearing in various parts of speech, usu. with the implied notion that the agent and object or recipient of a given transitive predicate are identical (
self-control; self-government; self-help; self-portrait), or that the subject of a given predicate acts or is effective without assistance (
self-adhesive; self-loading; self-study).
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Self
the process of teaching oneself. — autodidact, n.
the worship of oneself.
the study of oneself.
an excessive liking for solitude.
a kind of self-love; narcissism. — autophile, n. — autophilic, adj.
an abnormal fear of being by oneself. Also called eremiophobia, eremophobia, monophobia.
the act or process of plagiarizing one’s own work.
a mode of life based on intuition and self-education in order to improve one’s character. — biosophist, n.
the state of being self-centered; greater concern about the self than others to an excessive degree. — egocentric, n., adj.
1. the philosophy or attitude of considering oneself the center of the universe.
2. the state or quality of being self-centered. — egocentric, n., adj.
an extreme individualism; thought and behavior based upon the premise that one’s individual self is the highest product, if not the totality, of existence. Cf. individualism. — egoist, n. — egoistic, adj.
a psychologically abnormal egotism. — egomaniac, n.
a deification of self.
the practice of thought, speech, and conduct expressing high self-regard or self-exaltation, usually without skepticism or humility. — egotist, n. — egotistical, adj.
autophobia.
1. the state of being a hermit.
2. an attitude favoring solitude and seclusion. — eremite, n. — eremitic, adj.
Psychology.
1. the act of directing one’s interest outward or to things outside the self.
2. the state of having thoughts and activities satisfied by things outside the self. Cf. introversion. — extravert, n. — extraversive, extravertive, adj.
the state or quality of being partisan or self-interested. — factional, adj. — factionalist, n.
the practice of independence in thought and action on the premise that the development and expression of an individual character and personality are of the utmost importance. Cf. egoism. — individualist, n. — individualistic, adj.
the act or process of becoming an individual or distinct entity.
1. the act of directing one’s interest inward or toward the self.
2. the state of being interested chiefly in one’s own inner thoughts, feelings, and processes. Cf. extraversion. — introvert, n. — introvertive, introversive, adj.
a dictatorial atmosphere brought about by a person’s demands based solely on his having uttered them.
an individual identity; selfhood. Also ipseity.
a theatrical performance or scene with a single actor who speaks alone.
1. the habit of talking to oneself; soliloquizing.
2. Obsolete a monologue. — monologist, n. — monologic, monological, adj.
autophobia.
an excessive admiration of oneself. Also narcism. — narcissist, narcist n. — narcissistic, narcistic, adj.
Archaic. the use of we in speaking of oneself.
the individual or personal characteristics of a person or object. — personalist, n. — personalistic, adj.
Obsolete, self love; an excessive regard for oneself.
the state of living apart from society, like a hermit. — recluse, n. — reclusive, adj.
a person who seeks solitude or removes himself from the society of others; a recluse.
the obsessive concentration on one’s self-interests. — selfist, n.
1. the act or custom of talking to oneself or talking when alone.
2. Drama, a speech in which a character reveals his thoughts to the audience but not to other characters in the play. — soliloquist, n.
1. the killing of oneself.
2. a person who has killed himself. — suicidal, adj.
Phrenology. the organ serving as the seat of instincts of self-preservation.
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.