themselves etymology

Etymology

The word "themselves" is derived from the Old English word "hemself" or "hemselves," which is a compound of the pronoun "he" or "she" and the indefinite pronoun "self."

Meaning

The word "themselves" is an indefinite pronoun used as a reflexive or emphatic pronoun. It refers to the subject of a sentence or clause and emphasizes their involvement in the action or state being described.

Origin

The use of "hemself" or "hemselves" as a reflexive pronoun emerged in the 12th century, replacing earlier constructions such as "himsilf" or "himsylf." It gained widespread use in Middle English and has continued to be a common feature of the English language ever since.

Usage

"Themselves" is typically used as a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object of a verb are the same. For example:

• The students taught themselves how to code.
• The cats groomed themselves.

"Themselves" can also be used as an emphatic pronoun to stress the involvement or identity of the subject. For example:

• The children made the cake themselves.
• The scientists proved themselves to be brilliant.

"Themselves" can also be used in the impersonal construction "to themselves," which means "to each other." For example:

• The friends talked to themselves in whispers.
• The students gave presents to themselves.

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