himself

him|self [ weak ım`self, strong hım`self ] pronoun ***

Himself is a reflexive pronoun, being the reflexive form of he. It is used especially in the following ways:

as an object that refers to the same male who is the subject of the sentence or who is mentioned somewhere earlier in the sentence:

He had prepared himself for this important meeting.

Tom was feeling pleased with himself.

I asked him a few questions about himself.

Florian's wife was, like himself, a refugee.

after a singular noun or the pronoun he for emphasis:

a suggestion that came from the president himself

1. ) used for showing that the man, boy, or male animal that does something is also affected by his action or is involved in it:

Will slipped once, but he didn't hurt himself.

That man ought to be ashamed of himself.

2. ) used for referring back to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned in the sentence:

Lester's book is mostly about himself.

3. ) OLD-FASHIONED used in a general way for referring back to the subject of a sentence or someone else mentioned in the sentence when they may be either male or female, especially when the subject is a word such as everyone, someone, or anyone :

Everyone has to look after himself.

─ see usage note at HE

4. ) used for emphasizing that you are referring to a particular man, boy, or male animal and not to anyone else:

It is said that Shakespeare himself once acted in this play.

Being an ex-police officer himself, Johnson understands why so many cops are angry.

a ) used for emphasizing that a particular man, boy, or male animal does something without help from anyone else:

You mean to tell me Jack built the whole cabin himself?

(all) by himself

1. ) alone:

Since his wife died, he's been living all by himself.

I noticed Ben sitting all by himself in the corner.

2. ) without help from anyone else:

There's too much work for one man to do all by himself.

(all) to himself

if a man or boy has a place or time to himself, he is free to do what he wants in it and does not have to share it with anyone else:

It was the first time he'd had a room to himself.

be/feel/seem himself

if a man or boy is himself, he is in his normal mental or physical state:

Joe was beginning to feel more himself after a good night's sleep.