Langimage
English

person

|per/son|

A1

🇺🇸

/ˈpɜːrsən/

🇬🇧

/ˈpɜːsən/

collective humans

Etymology
Etymology Information

'person' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'persona,' where 'persona' meant 'mask' or 'character in a play.'

Historical Evolution

'persona' transformed into the Old French word 'persone,' and eventually became the modern English word 'person' through Middle English.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'mask' or 'character,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'individual human being.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

an individual human being.

There was only one person in the room.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Noun 2

a character or role in a play or story.

The main person in the story is a detective.

Synonyms

Idioms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35