a person's self (used for emphasis or reflexively):
One often hurts oneself accidentally.
Idioms
2.
be oneself,
to be in one's normal state of mind or physical condition.
to be unaffected and sincere:
One makes more friends by being oneself than by putting on airs.
3.
by oneself,
without a companion; alone.
through one's own efforts; unaided:
to become a millionaire by oneself.
4.
come to oneself,
Also, come to. to regain consciousness.
to regain one's self-possession; come to one's senses.
Also, come to one's self.
Also, Archaic, one's self.
Origin
1540-50; shortened form of one's self
British Dictionary definitions for by oneself
oneself
/wʌnˈsɛlf/
pronoun
1.
the reflexive form of one (sense 20), one (sense 21)
(intensifier): one doesn't do that oneself
2.
(preceded by a copula) one's normal or usual self: one doesn't feel oneself after such an experience
Word Origin and History for by oneself
oneself
1540s, one's self. Hyphenated 18c.; written as one word from c.1827, on model of himself, itself, etc.
Idioms and Phrases with by oneself
by oneself
Alone, unaccompanied; also, unassisted. For example, She enjoyed being by herself much of the time, or Brian can pick up his toys by himself. [ c. a.d. 1000 ]