Middle English Dictionary Entry
yǒu-self pron.
Entry Info
| Forms | yǒu-self pron. Also ȝioself. |
| Etymology | From yǒu pron. & self adj., n., & pron.; also cp. OE phrase ēow sylfe, -selfum, etc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. the-self pron., thou-self pron.
1.
Emphatic plural 2nd person pron. used as an appositive to the subj. of a clause: yourselves.
Associated quotations
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)70/1 : Nu wylle we eow secgan þet arfoþeste andȝit; þet oðer ȝe maȝon eow seolfe understanden.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)93/23 : Godes temple is hali, and ðat ȝe bieð ȝeu seluen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2894 : Wenden ȝe…to fellen uren leoden & beon eow seluen riche and welden al Rome?
- a1350 Most i ryden (Hrl 2253)60 : Hyre tyttes aren…as apples tuo of Parays, ouself ȝe mowen seo.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.122 : Þanne ar ȝe cherles…And sathan ȝowre saueoure: ȝow-selue now ȝe witnessen.
- c1450 WBible(2) (Bod 277)1 Pet.2.5 : Ȝe ȝou [Roy.1.C.8: Ȝe silf, as quyk stoonys, be ȝe aboue bildid in to spiritual housis].
2.
Emphatic plural 2nd person pron. having the same referent as the subj.: yourselves; also, with referent of indefinite number: ?you yourself, thee thyself: (a) as direct obj. of a finite verb, a ppl., or an inf.; also with obj. compl. following [1st quot.]; also in as constructions; also, as indirect obj.: to yourselves [2nd quot.];
(b) as obj. of a prep.; of ~, ?witless.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)95/28 : Wepeð forð mid me alle ðe healdeð ȝeu seluen forȝelte.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)123/5 : Ȝie…doð scame ȝew seluen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)50/5 : Ȝe luuieð ow seolf.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6245 : Werieð eow seoluen wið vncuðe leoden.
- ?a1300 Sayings St.Bern.(Dgb 86)757/8 : Lestneþ me a luitel þrowe, Ȝe þat wilen ou selven cnowe!
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2595 : Helpes me and yu-self baþe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.19.34 : Ȝe sholyn loue hym as ȝow self.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Jas.1.22 : Be ȝe…not herers onely, deceyuynge ȝou silf [L vosmetipsos].
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3150 : At þe ende shul men se Þat ȝe begyle ȝou self and nat me.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.284 : Ȝe corectoures…corecteth fyrst ȝow-seluen.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jude 2.20,21 : Moost dere britheren, aboue bilde ȝou silf on ȝoure…feith…and kepe ȝou silf in the loue of God.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)380/7 : The principal comaundement…is to loue me aboue alle þingis & ȝoure owne euencristen as ȝousilf.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)795 : So it fareþ by ȝou folk þat fillen ȝou-silven.
b
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)79/21 : Wa ȝeu ðe…to-foren ȝeu seluen bieð ȝeape!
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)68/473 : Al ȝe beoð blodles, bikimet, of ow seoluen.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)16/11 : Fiftene psalmes seggeð o þis wise: þe earste fiue for ow seolf.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)21/346 : Wiþ him ȝe wolden pleie Bitwex ȝou selue tweie.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1445 : Ne wepeþ…nouȝt ffor me…Ak vp ȝow-sulf wepeþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.26.15 : Ȝee shul betrayen aȝen ȝouself & aȝen þis cite.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)340 : Wyth…fode…frette þy cofer, For sustnaunce to yowself and also þose oþer.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)136/25 : Be ȝe conforted þat setten litel bi ȝou self.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)43/16 : Þou maist wel se þat…Seynt Poul tauȝte ȝou to bigynne first charyte at ȝousilf.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.7.5a : Be ȝie nouȝht dronkin with wyn, bute be ȝie fulfilled of þe holi gost, seyende to ȝioself in hympnis and spalmys.
3a.
Emphatic plural 2nd person pron. used independently: you yourselves, you: (a) as subj. of a clause;
(b) as direct obj. of a verb;
(c) as obj. of a prep.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Josh.24.22 : Ȝow self [L ipsi] han chose to ȝow þe lord.
- a1400 Comp.Our Lady (Pep 2498)114/14 : Ȝouseluen han asked bifore pilat þat þe blode schulde fallen on ȝou.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)14691 : Ȝe may hit fynde Bit ȝif ȝou self [Vsp: yee self; Frf: ȝe] be ful blynde.
- a1425 WBible(1) (Magd-C F.4.6)1 Pet.2.5 : Ȝou [Roy 1.B.6: Ȝoure silf, as quike stoones, be aboue bildid spiritual housis].
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)15 : Eower lond ic wulle friþian and eow selfe meȝhan.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)15/164 : Ower read…forreadeð ow seolf.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.273 : Goddis worde…If it auailled nouȝt þe comune, it myȝte auaille ȝow-seluen.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.123 : I haue saued ȝow-self…and ȝowre sones after.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)949 : Þa maȝȝ ben god till ȝure preost & till ȝuw sellfenn baþe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)122/862 : Ower wop wendeð al on ow seoluen.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)78/38 : Ȝe wrechches…On eov-sulf it scholde nouþe bi-falle.
3b.
Emphatic singular 2nd person pron. used independently, as direct obj. of a verb: you yourself, thee thyself;—addressed to a ruler.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)9774 : I take you self, Sir, to witnes.