The object form of “she”, used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a female person or animal already mentioned.
I called her last night to check on the project.
The teacher praised her for the excellent presentation.
✦ Old English hire, the dative and genitive form of hēo (“she”), later replacing the earlier accusative hīe/hi.
Belonging to or connected with a female person or animal already mentioned or easily identified.
Her phone is ringing on the kitchen counter.
We visited her grandparents during the holidays.
✦ Developed from the Old English genitive hire, used to indicate possession.
used to show that the woman or girl who is the subject of the sentence is also the object of the action
Anna looked at herself in the mirror before the interview.
The kitten scratched herself while playing with the yarn.
✦ Old English hīe selfa, from hie (“her”) + self. Parallel to myself, yourself, himself.
used to emphasize that a particular woman or girl did something and not someone else
The chef herself served us at the table.
Maria herself admitted the mistake.
(informal, Irish English) used humorously to refer to someone’s wife, girlfriend, or to a woman in authority whose name the speaker chooses not to say
I'll have to ask herself if we're free this weekend.
Herself wants the lawn cut before the match starts.
belonging to or connected with the woman or girl who has already been mentioned
Is this book hers or yours?
That red bicycle is hers, and the blue one is mine.
✦ From Middle English heres, alteration of Old English hiere or hire, genitive of hēo (“she”).
used to talk about a woman or girl who has already been mentioned or is known to the listener
She is my best friend, and I trust her completely.
When the teacher walked in, everyone knew she meant business.
✦ Old English "hēo" (she) replaced by Middle English forms evolving into modern "she".
used affectionately to refer to a ship, car, country, or other thing as if it were female
The old ship creaked, but she could still cross the ocean.
I love my new car—she runs like a dream.
✦ Extension of the personal pronoun to personified objects, first recorded in the 14th century for ships, later cars and nations.
a female person or animal
We have two dogs: a he and a she.
Among the puppies, each she had a pink ribbon.
✦ From the pronoun, later reinterpreted as a common noun referring to a female.
