First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
person
noun per·son \ˈpər-sən\
: a human being
: a person who likes or enjoys something specified
law : the body or clothing of a person especially when considered as a place to hide things
Full Definition of PERSON
1
: human, individual —sometimes used in combination especially by those who prefer to avoid man in compounds applicable to both sexes <chairperson> <spokesperson>
2
: a character or part in or as if in a play : guise
3
a : one of the three modes of being in the Trinitarian Godhead as understood by Christians b : the unitary personality of Christ that unites the divine and human natures
4
a archaic : bodily appearance b : the body of a human being; also : the body and clothing <unlawful search of the person>
5
: the personality of a human being : self
6
: one (as a human being, a partnership, or a corporation) that is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties
7
: reference of a segment of discourse to the speaker, to one spoken to, or to one spoken of as indicated by means of certain pronouns or in many languages by verb inflection
— per·son·hood \-ˌhu̇d\ noun
— in person
: in one's bodily presence <the movie star appeared in person>
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Origin of PERSON
Middle English, from Anglo-French persone, from Latin persona actor's mask, character in a play, person, probably from Etruscan phersu mask, from Greek prosōpa, plural of prosōpon face, mask — more at prosopopoeia
Related to PERSON
Rhymes with PERSON
PERSON Defined for Kids
person
noun per·son \ˈpər-sən\
Definition of PERSON for Kids
1
: a human being considered as an individual <I had never heard a person speak Arabic.> Hint:The word person is sometimes used in compounds especially to avoid man in words that apply to both sexes. <chairperson>
2
: the body of a human being <Keep your person neat.>
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