ENGLISH
REFERENCE

thyself

pron.
C1 Advanced US //ˌðaɪˈsɛɫf// UK //θaɪsˈɛlf// thy·self Archaic Dialect Literary

pron. yourself. You use this word in very formal or old-fashioned writing and speaking, mostly in religious or poetic contexts.

pron. the reflexive form of 'thou'. Used in archaic, poetic, or religious contexts to refer to oneself.


SIMPLE

Thou shalt not harm thyself.

CONTEXTUAL

In the old manuscript, the author warned the reader to be careful of thyself when walking alone at night.

COMPLEX

The poet's final stanza urges the reader to seek inner peace and to trust thyself rather than the shifting opinions of others.

Origin

From Middle English thy-selfe, thiself, thi-zelf, from Old English þīnes selfes, equivalent to thy + -self. Compare Middle English thou-self.

Idioms1 entry

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