themselves */*/*/

themselves */*/*/
UK [ðəmˈselvz] / US pronoun
Summary:

Themselves is a reflexive pronoun, being a reflexive form of they. It can be used especially in the following ways: - as an object that refers to the same people that are the subject of the sentence or that are mentioned somewhere earlier in the sentence: They prepared themselves for the struggle ahead. ♦ We ask people questions about themselves. - after a plural noun or the pronoun "they" for emphasis: It is the party leaders themselves who make the decisions.
1) used for showing that the people or things that do something are also affected by it or involved in it

They have no weapons to defend themselves.

The Republicans are divided among themselves about how to spend the money.

The couple had been saving up to buy themselves a house.

2)
a) used for referring back to a group of people already mentioned in the same sentence

Dr Jeffers' book should give readers a better understanding of themselves.

b) used instead of "himself" or "herself" for referring back to a singular subject of a sentence, especially when the subject is a word such as "everyone", "someone", or "anyone"

Everyone should just help themselves to the food.

3)
a) used for emphasizing that a particular group of people are the ones that you are referring to, and not any others

No one knows more about crime than the criminals themselves.

The two youths died in a fire that they themselves had started.

b) used for emphasizing that a particular group of people do something without help from anyone else

The kids prepared the whole breakfast themselves.

•

(all) by themselves — alone; without any help

people who choose to live by themselves

Why were these two small children wandering about all by themselves?

It's a brilliant idea, and they thought it up all by themselves!

(all) to themselves — used for saying that a particular group of people do not have to share something with anyone else

Helen and Philip were able to get a table to themselves.


English dictionary. 2014.

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  • themselves — c.1500, standard from 1540s, replacing themself (Cf. THEIRSELF (Cf. theirself)). Themself returned late 20c. as some writers took to avoiding himself with gender neutral someone, anyone, etc …   Etymology dictionary

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