The translation of the French title - and indeed all texts from Duchamp - is very difficult because Duchamp used words with dual or multiple semantic properties. The French word 'même' means 'even' but also 'itself' (which would result in 'even her-self' - if the bachelors would be to shy - and maybe 'even by itself' - as the bride and the bachelors are part of one and the same process). 

It's hereby suggested that this work should not be conceived as generally metaphorical, at least not in relation to the opinions of ABANDON. 

Better known as 'The Large Glass' (which is a wrong title in respect of the work as a whole: Green box and Glass)

First phase of the assembling of the glass: 1915 

Declaration of the 'finally unfinished' state:  February 1923 

First presentation to the public: 1926 
Brooklyn Museum in New York (only the object of glass) 

Discovery of irreparable damage of the glass: 1931 
(some sources state 1936) The work had been improperly packaged after the show in the Brooklyn Museum in New York in 1926 and was heavily damaged. 

Bundle of the Notes and drawings in the 'Boîte verte': 1934 - Facsimile of 93 documents - elliptical and poetic texts, sketches and photographs - bundled (as loose pieces) in a green box, just like the box Duchamp originally used to store these documents for his own purposes. 

Duchamp wanted to publish the box as a catalogue of the warehouse 'Sears - Roebuck', but it didn't come that far. 

The art historian Georges Heard Hamilton translated the documents in English and the Artist Richard Hamilton (no relation) made a book (typographic) of the documents.