self
self / self/ • n. (pl. selves / selvz/ ) a person's essential being that distinguishes them from others, esp. considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action: our alienation from our true selves | [in sing.] guilt can be turned against the self | language is an aspect of a person's sense of self. ∎ a person's particular nature or personality; the qualities that make a person individual or unique: by the end of the round he was back to his old self | Paula seemed to be her usual cheerful self. ∎ one's own interests or pleasure: to love in an unpossessive way implies the total surrender of self.• pron. (pl. selves) oneself, in particular: ∎ (one's self) used ironically to refer in specified glowing terms to oneself or someone else: the only side worth supporting is your own sweet self.• adj. (of a trimming or cover) of the same material and color as the rest of the item: a dress with self belt.• v. [tr.] chiefly Bot. self-pollinate; self-fertilize: [as n.] (selfing) the flowers never open and pollination is normally by selfing. ∎ [usu. as adj.] (selfed) Genetics cause (an animal or plant) to breed with or fertilize one of the same hybrid origin or strain: progeny were derived from selfed crosses.