1. The act of governing one's self, or the state of being governed by one's self; self-control; self-command.
2. Hence, government of a community, state, or nation by the joint action of the mass of people constituting such a civil body; also, the state of being so governed; democratic government; democracy. It is to self-government, the great principle of popular representation and administration, — the system that lets in all to participate in the councels that are to assign the good or evil to all, — that we may owe what we are and what we hope to be. D. Webster.
SELF-GRATULATION
Self`-grat`u*la"tion, n.
Defn: Gratulation of one's self.
SELF-HARDENING
Self`-hard"en*ing, a. (Metal.)
Defn: Designating, or pert. to, any of various steels that harden when heated to above a red heat and cooled in air, usually in a blast of cold air with moderate rapidity, without quenching. Such steels are alloys of iron and carbon with manganese, tungsten and manganese, chromium, molybdenum and manganese, etc. They are chiefly used as high-speed steels. — Self`-hard"en*ed, a.
SELF-HEAL
Self`-heal", n. (Bot.)
Defn: A blue-flowered labiate plant (Brunella vulgaris); the healall.
SELF-HEALING
Self`-heal"ing, a.
Defn: Having the power or property of healing itself.