themselves

themselves
them|selves [ ðəm`selvz ] pronoun ***
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 mentioned somewhere earlier in the sentence:
They prepared themselves for the struggle ahead.
We ask people questions about themselves.
after a plural noun or the pronoun they for emphasis:
It is the party leaders themselves who make the decisions.
1. ) used for showing that the people or things that do something are also affected by it or involved in it:
They have no weapons to defend themselves.
The Republicans are divided among themselves about how to spend the money.
The couple had been saving up to buy themselves a house.
2. ) used for referring back to a group of people already mentioned in the same sentence:
Dr. Jeffers' book should give readers a better understanding of themselves.
a ) used instead of himself or herself for referring back to a singular subject of a sentence, especially when the subject is a word such as everyone, someone, or anyone :
Everyone should just help themselves to the food.
3. ) used for emphasizing that a particular group of people are the ones you are referring to, and not any others:
The two youths died in a fire that they themselves had started.
No one knows more about crime than the criminals themselves.
a ) used for emphasizing that a particular group of people do something without help from anyone else:
The kids prepared the whole breakfast themselves.
(all) by themselves
1. ) alone:
Why were these two small children wandering around all by themselves?
people who choose to live by themselves
2. ) without any help:
It's a brilliant idea, and they thought it up all by themselves!
(all) to themselves
used for saying that a particular group of people do not have to share something with anyone else:
Mildred and Philip were able to get a table to themselves.

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • themselves — [them selvz′] pron. [Late (Northern) ME thaim selfe for ME hemselve(n) (see THEY) + s, pl. suffix] a form of THEY, used: a) as an intensifier [they saw it themselves] b) as a reflexive [they hurt themselves] c) with the meaning “their r …   English World dictionary

  • Themselves — Them*selves , pron. The plural of himself, herself, and itself. See {Himself}, {Herself}, {Itself}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • themselves — c.1500, standard from 1540s, replacing themself (Cf. THEIRSELF (Cf. theirself)). Themself returned late 20c. as some writers took to avoiding himself with gender neutral someone, anyone, etc …   Etymology dictionary

  • themselves — ► PRONOUN (third person pl. ) 1) used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a group of people or things previously mentioned as the subject of the clause. 2) used to emphasize a particular group of people or things mentioned. 3) used …   English terms dictionary

  • themselves — [[t]ðəmse̱lvz[/t]] ♦ (Themselves is the third person plural reflexive pronoun.) 1) PRON REFL: v PRON, prep PRON You use themselves to refer to people, animals, or things when the object of a verb or preposition refers to the same people or things …   English dictionary

  • 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

  • themselves — them|selves W1S1 [ðəmˈselvz] pron 1.) used to show that the people who do something are affected by their own action ▪ Teachers have no choice but to take measures to protect themselves. ▪ Our neighbours have just bought themselves a jacuzzi. ▪… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • themselves — pronoun 1 the reflexive form of they : The kids seem very pleased with themselves what have they been doing? | Our neighbours have just bought themselves a jacuzzi. 2 used to emphasize the pronoun they , a plural noun etc: Doctors themselves are… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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