ourself, pron.
(aʊəˈsɛlf)
Forms: see our and self.
[A parallel formation to next, with self instead of selves, appearing first in 14th c.
It may have arisen out of our selven, through our selve, our selfe, finally with e mute, as in the infinitive of vbs. (e.g. holden, holde, hold); but, on the other hand, it may have been a distinct formation, with the uninflected self (cf. myself, ourself, with my own, our own).]
Emphatic and reflexive pronoun, corresponding to we, us, originally not differing in sense from ourselves; but subsequently differentiated, so as to be used mostly in those cases in which we refers to a single person or is not definitely plural; e.g. in royal, divine, or editorial utterance, or when used vaguely in the sense of one, oneself.
In mod. South Sc. oursel is collective, oursels is individual; e.g. ‘we do everything oursel’, but ‘we'll settle it atween oursels’.
I. Emphatic.
1. Standing alone, as subject, as object direct or indirect, or in predicate after be, become, or the like.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 3528 Oure-selfe & oure seruage is surely ȝoure awen. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxxi. (Percy Soc.) 150 Now trouth of his right dooth our selfe exhorte. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 16 Our natiue sin in Adame to expell And all trespas committit be our sell. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. v. v. 73 Which our selfe haue granted. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) I. 37 So puzzl'd..that they knew not..whether there were really in the world any such person as our-self. 1715–20 Pope Iliad xvii. 516 Ourself will swiftness to your nerves impart, Ourself with rising spirits swell your heart. 1785 Burns Death & Dr. Hornbook ii, That e'er he nearer comes oursel 'S a muckle pity. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles vi. xxxvii, Ourself will grace..The bridal of the Maid of Lorn. 1847 Tennyson Princ. iii. 300, 303 Ourself..learnt..This craft of healing. Were you sick, ourself Would tend upon you. |
2. In apposition with we or (rarely) us.
| 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop ii. ii, For we oure self ben cause of this meschyef. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iii. i. 8 Art. O Cæsar, reade mine first: for mine's a suite That touches Cæsar neerer... Cæs. What touches vs our selfe, shall be last seru'd. 1609 Daniel Civ. Wars viii. lv, We will our selfe take time to heare Your Cause at large. |
II. 3. Reflexive: as direct or indirect object.
| 13.. Cursor M. 23791 (Cott.) Qui sell we vr-self [Edin., Fairf., Trin. vs; Gött. vs-self] vnto þat soru? 13.. Chron. R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1076 (MS. B) Þat beþ here bi oure self [so MSS. β, γ; MS. A, vs sulve; MS. α, vs sulf] as at þe worldes ende. c 1400 Destr. Troy 4933 To macche vs with monhede & might of our selfe [cf. Ibid. 7860 We are folke full fele..Assemblit in this Cite oure seluyn to kepe]. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. vi. (1885) 121 We that mey harme owre selff with all thes defautes. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon iii. 78 Broder,..let vs make redy ourselfe for to yssue out. 1563 Homilies ii. Matrimony (1859) 501 For this folly is ever..grown up with us,..to think highly by ourself, so that none thinketh it meet to give place to another. 1836–9 Dickens Sk. Boz, Vauxhall Gard. by Day, We, from the mere force of habit, found ourself running among the first. 1884 tr. Lotze's Metaph. 179 That a complete vacuum could not be represented to the mind, without at least reserving a place in it for ourself. |