ENGLISH
REFERENCE

itself

pron.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˌɪtˈsɛɫf// UK //ɪtsˈɛlf// it·self Archaic General-service

pron. the same thing or animal that was just mentioned. You use it when the thing doing the action is also the thing receiving the action.

pron. the reflexive form of the third-person singular neuter pronoun. Used as a direct or indirect object when the subject and object are identical, or as an intensive pronoun to emphasize the noun it refers to.


SIMPLE

The cat cleans itself after every meal.

CONTEXTUAL

The machine will turn itself off automatically once the cycle finishes to save electricity.

COMPLEX

The theory is not flawed in itself, but the way it has been applied to modern economics has led to several significant practical failures.

Origin

From Middle English hit-self, equivalent to it + -self.

Usage

Functions as a reflexive pronoun or an intensive pronoun. When used for emphasis, it can follow the noun directly or appear at the end of the clause.

Idioms2 entries

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