different between themself vs perself

English

Etymology

From Middle English theimself. Equivalent to them +? -self. Reinforced by analogy with the singular-plural distinction between yourself and yourselves.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ð?ms?lf/, /ð?m?s?lf/
• Rhymes: -?ms?lf, -?lf

Pronoun

themself

1. The reflexive form of they, the third-person singular personal pronoun. The single person previously mentioned, as the object of a verb or following a preposition (also used for emphasis).

   Someone could hurt themself.

   Anyone who wants a car like mine can buy one themself.
2. (nonstandard) Synonym of themselves (the third-person plural).
   • 1822, John Strype, Ecclesiastical Memorials, Relating Chiefly to Religion, page 119:

     […] and the same is here thought of al men to be so vailable and sufficient, as can be required, accept and take the said commission and dispensation so thankfully, and themself so satisfied with the same, that they repute and think themself not only singularly obstringed and bound to the Popes […]

Usage notes

• The use of themself instead of themselves is sometimes proscribed, but it is relatively common "considering that singular they is unquestionably far less frequent than plural they". Furthermore, the use of themself as a singular and themselves as a plural is in "clear parallel [to] common usage of the second-person forms, where yourselves can be contrasted with yourself", and the same is true in the first person, where ourselves contrasts with ourself.
• For more on the use of they as a singular pronoun, see they.
• For information on the use of he and himself as a generic singular pronoun, see he.

Synonyms

• themselves (more common)
• theirself, theirselves (nonstandard)
• himself, herself (gender-specific)
• thonself (rare)
• other attested gender-neutral pronouns

References

English

Etymology

per (from person) + self (like himself, herself, etc.)

Pronunciation

• enPR: p?r?self
• Rhymes: -?lf
• Hyphenation: per?self

Pronoun

perself

1. (reflexive, rare) Per, themself; gender-neutral object of a verb or preposition that also appears as the subject, the reflexive form of per.

   Per injured perself.

   • 1996 February 22, "Susan Groppi" (username), "These messages make me so sad...", in alt.adoption, Usenet:

     I can't comment on the original poster's motivations, but I do know that some agencies (mine, for instance) will not release any information until the adoptee is 18, and then the adoptee perself has to request the information.

   • 1996 December 6, "Suki L. McDonough" (username), "What's Up?", in soc.women.lesbian-and-bi, Usenet:

     My hit on the comment was that she was saying that a person on a newsgroup could choose *not* to publicly identify as a member of a visually identifiable minority which is subject to oppression, and therefore spend some time not having to have such oppression directed at perself as an individual (although obviously such a person would still be subject to "ist" postings which aim at the oppressed group in general).

   • 1997 April 22, "Anthony and Joy Hilbert" (username), "ASB: Info PDQ please re local group rules", in alt.sex.bondage, Usenet:

     The person who called perself a dom, but then breached a safeword or did something similarly non-consensual.

Synonyms

• themself

Hyponyms

• himself, herself

See also

• other attested gender-neutral pronouns