Standard Lemma guide

selfsameness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The property of two or more appearances of being of the selfsame underlying object; sameness as regards self or identity; identity; identicality.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • There is no doubt about the selfsameness of the morning Sun with the evening Sun.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the quality of being identical with itself

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: identity, identicalness, indistinguishability

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English selfsame Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English selfsameness From selfsame + -ness.