itself
/ɪtˈsɛlf
/pronoun [third person singular]
1 [reflexive] Used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a thing or animal previously mentioned as the subject of the clause: his horse hurt itself the company has established itself as a leader in the field...
- All of this means that SAS could find itself subject to a bid from a bigger rival.
- It has hurt itself financially, and the turn to the Right in this country is very serious.
- As dawn was beginning to show itself, the horse stopped and refused to walk any further.
2 [emphatic] Used to emphasize a particular thing or animal mentioned: the roots are several inches long, though the plant itself is only a foot tall...
- That memorial itself will be the subject of a separate international competition.
- The very existence of the subject itself already imposes a terrible ethical burden.
- In any event certainty is best achieved by express words in the arbitration clause itself.
2.1Used after a quality to emphasize what a perfect example of that quality someone or something is: Mrs Vincent was kindness itself...
- They are wonderful reminders of the enduring mystery and magic that is childhood itself.
Phrases
by itself
in itself
Origin
Old English (see it1, self).