Middle English Dictionary Entry
his-self pron.
Entry Info
| Forms | his-self pron. Also -selfe(n, -selven; gen. -seolfes. |
| Etymology | From his & self. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Emphatic sg. masc. pron. having the same referent as the subject: (a) as a subject; (b) as an appositive to the subject; (c) as a reflexive object of a verb; (d) as the object of a prep.; (e) with fem. referent.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)1726 : Noe..gaf þe wriȝtes þaire mesour, and wroȝt his-self [Vsp: he self] in þat labour.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)204/14 : So this kyng hadde ȝeven his forsaide kyngdom to his sone, and his selfen dwellyd in this maner of place.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)25758 : God his seluin did vs hete..quen sinful man his way wil lete, he sal þe finde of mercy squete.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)107 : Thus þer stondes in stale þe stif kyng his-seluen, Talkkande bifore þe hyȝe table of trifles ful hende.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)222/25 : Tyl he wolde comyn & preyin for grace hys-self.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)23/41 : A man þat es in dedly synne es vnable to rysseue þe bemes of grace þat spryngs fro þe sunn of ryghtwesnes, þat es Crist is-selfe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)353/10 : Apon his wordes will I ryst that he his self saide vs vntill.
- a1500(a1470) Brut-1461(1) (Add 10099)530/3 : And þe King his self [was] taken in þe feld & afterward brought to London.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)16/29 : He..ilyfde on deofelȝylde syððan he his seolfes weold & he wearð casere.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.70 : If anny broyer or sister fallyth in pouerte, and may noght help is-selfe, he schal haue, of ilke broyer and sister, at ilk a mornspeche, a peny.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)2695 : His-self [Vsp: Him self] and ysmael he shere, and siþen al ys þat caremen were.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)246/108 : He callys his self a kyng ther he none is.
d
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)3408 : Oure lorde vs bringe intil his rest, suche a reste in to come þat we may wiþ his-seluen [Vsp: him-self] wone.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)35.1 : Þe vnrightwis saide with tunge hisse, Þat in his-selfe noght gilte misse.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)263/174 : It is better, as I hope, On by his self to draw this rope.
e
- c1415 Chaucer CT.Mil.(Lnsd 851)A.3543 : Him had leuer..That sche had a schippe al his selfe [Heng: hir self] alone.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1175(OE) Bod.Aelfric OT (Bod 343)23/175 : Godes gelaðunge..of Cristes siden..wearð acenned his sylfes agen bryd.
Note: New sense: Nothing like this now under word--per JR.