themselves

Themselves is defined as a group of people or things.

(pronoun)

An example of themselves used as a pronoun is in the sentence, "The students were unable to look at themselves after what they did."

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See themselves in Webster's New World College Dictionary

pronoun

a form of they, used:
  1. as an intensifier: they saw it themselves
  2. as a reflexive: they hurt themselves
  3. with the meaning “their real, true, or normal selves” [they are not themselves today]: in this construction them functions as an adjective and selves as a noun; when they are separated, the form their is used [their own sweet selves]

Origin: Late (Northern) ME thaim selfe for ME hemselve(n) (see they) + -s, pl. suffix

See themselves in American Heritage Dictionary 4

pron.
  1. Those ones identical with them:
    a. Used reflexively as the direct or indirect object of a verb or as the object of a preposition: prepared themselves for the trip; gave themselves plenty of time; were left to themselves.
    b. Used for emphasis: The cooks themselves eat after all the guests have finished.
    c. Used in an absolute construction: Newcomers themselves, they knew few people at the party.
  2. Their normal or healthy condition: The members of the crew were themselves again after the crisis passed.

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