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Itself vs. Self: What's the Difference?

Itself and Self Definitions

Itself

(reflexive pronoun) it; A thing as the object of a verb or preposition that also appears as the subject
The door closed by itself

Self

The total, essential, or particular being of a person; the individual
"An actor's instrument is the self" (Joan Juliet Buck).

Itself

(emphatic) it; used to intensify the subject, especially to emphasize that it is the only participant in the predicate
The door itself is quite heavy.

Self

The essential qualities distinguishing one person from another; individuality
"He would walk a little first along the southern walls, shed his European self, fully enter this world" (Howard Kaplan).

Itself

It; used to refer back to an earlier subject
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Self

One's consciousness of one's own being or identity; the ego
"For some of us, the self's natural doubts are given in mesmerizing amplification by way of critics' negative assessments of our writing" (Joyce Carol Oates).

Itself

The neuter reflexive pronoun of It; as, the thing is good in itself; it stands by itself.
Borrowing of foreigners, in itself, makes not the kingdom rich or poor.

Self

One's own interests, welfare, or advantage
Thinking of self alone.

Self

(Immunology) That which the immune system identifies as belonging to the body
Tissues no longer recognized as self.

Self

Of the same character throughout.
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Self

Of the same material as the article with which it is used
A dress with a self belt.

Self

(Obsolete) Same or identical.

Self

To fertilize or pollinate itself. Used of hermaphroditic organisms.

Self

(obsolete) Himself, herself, itself, themselves; that specific (person mentioned).
This argument was put forward by the defendant self.

Self

Myself.
I made out a cheque, payable to self, which cheered me up somewhat.

Self

One individual's personality, character, demeanor, or disposition.
One's true self; one's better self; one's former self

Self

The subject of one's own experience of phenomena: perception, emotions, thoughts.

Self

An individual person as the object of the person's own reflective consciousness (plural selves).

Self

Self-interest or personal advantage.

Self

Identity or personality.

Self

(botany) A seedling produced by self-pollination (plural selfs).

Self

(botany) A flower having its colour uniform as opposed to variegated.

Self

Any molecule, cell, or tissue of an organism's own (belonging to the self), as opposed to a foreign (nonself) molecule, cell, or tissue (for example, infective, allogenic, or xenogenic).

Self

(botany) To fertilise by the same individual; to self-fertilise or self-pollinate.

Self

(botany) To fertilise by the same strain; to inbreed.

Self

Having its own or a single nature or character throughout, as in colour, composition, etc., without addition or change; of the same kind; unmixed.
A self bow: one made from a single piece of wood
A self flower or plant: one which is wholly of one colour

Self

(obsolete) Same, identical.

Self

(obsolete) Belonging to oneself; own.

Self

Of or relating to any molecule, cell, or tissue of an organism's own (belonging to the self), as opposed to a foreign (nonself) molecule, cell, or tissue (for example, infective, allogenic, or xenogenic).

Self

Same; particular; very; identical.
To shoot another arrow that self wayWhich you did shoot the first.
At that self moment enters Palamon.

Self

Having its own or a single nature or character, as in color, composition, etc., without addition or change; unmixed; as, a self bow, one made from a single piece of wood; self flower or plant, one which is wholly of one color; self-colored.

Self

The individual as the object of his own reflective consciousness; the man viewed by his own cognition as the subject of all his mental phenomena, the agent in his own activities, the subject of his own feelings, and the possessor of capacities and character; a person as a distinct individual; a being regarded as having personality.
A man's self may be the worst fellow to converse with in the world.
The self, the I, is recognized in every act of intelligence as the subject to which that act belongs. It is I that perceive, I that imagine, I that remember, I that attend, I that compare, I that feel, I that will, I that am conscious.

Self

Hence, personal interest, or love of private interest; selfishness; as, self is his whole aim.

Self

Personification; embodiment.
She was beauty's self.

Self

Your consciousness of your own identity

Self

A person considered as a unique individual;
One's own self

Self

Combining form; oneself or itself;
Self-control

Self

Used as a combining form; relating to--of or by or to or from or for--the self;
Self-knowledge
Self-proclaimed
Self-induced

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