myself

my•self

[[t]maɪˈsɛlf[/t]] pron.

1) fun a reflexive form of me (used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or as the object of a preposition): I excused myself from the table.

2) fun (used as an intensive of I or me): I myself don't like it.

3) fun (used in absolute constructions):

Myself a parent, I understand their concern[/ex]

4) fun (used in place of I or me in various compound and comparative constructions):

My wife and myself agree. He knows as much about the case as myself. No one is more to blame than myself[/ex]

5) fun my normal or customary self:

I wasn't myself when I said that[/ex]

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Etymology: 1200–50; MEmi self; r. ME meself, OE mē selfum (dat.) usage: Questions are raised with certain uses of myself and other -self forms in place of the personal pronouns (I, me, you, etc.). myself as a single subject (Myself shall be the messenger) is mainly poetic or literary. As a simple nonreflexive object, the -self form is not uncommon in speech: Since the letter was addressed to myself, I opened it. Packages had come for everyone but themselves. As part of a compound subject, object, or complement, myself and to a lesser extent the other -self forms are common in informal speech and personal writing, somewhat less common in more formal speech and writing: Many friends welcomed my husband and myself back home. Smith, Murray, and myself are the three candidates. Such forms are similarly used after as or than in all varieties of speech and writing: No contributors have been more generous than yourselves. These uses of the -self forms are characteristic of informal speech and writing and are often considered erroneous in more formal or careful contexts. See also me