themselves

themselves
/dheuhm selvz", dhem'-/, pron.pl.
1. an emphatic form of them or they: The authors themselves left the theater. The contract was written by the partners themselves.
2. a reflexive form of they (used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition): They washed themselves quickly. The painters gave themselves a week to finish the work. The noisy passengers drew attention to themselves.
3. (used after an indefinite singular antecedent in place of the definite masculine himself or the definite feminine herself): No one who ignores the law can call themselves a good citizen.
4. (used in place of they or them after as, than, or but): no soldiers braver than themselves; As for the entertainers, everyone got paid but themselves.
5. their usual, normal, characteristic selves: After a hot meal and a few hours' rest, they were themselves again.
[1300-50; THEM + SELVES; r. themself, ME thamself; see SELF]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • themselves */*/*/ — UK [ðəmˈselvz] / US pronoun Summary: Themselves is a reflexive pronoun, being a reflexive form of they. It can be used especially in the following ways: as an object that refers to the same people that are the subject of the sentence or that are… …   English dictionary

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