personal
English
Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
Alternative forms
- personall (obsolete)
Etymology
From Middle English personal, personele, from Anglo-Norman personel, personal, personell, Old French personal, personel, from Late Latin persōnālis, equivalent to person + -al.
Pronunciation
Adjective
personal (comparative more personal, superlative most personal)
- Pertaining to human beings as distinct from things.
- Of or pertaining to a particular person; relating to, or affecting, an individual, or each of many individuals; peculiar or proper to private concerns; not public or general
- personal question
- personal desire
- Her song was her personal look at the values of friendship.
- You can't read my diary - it is personal.
- Pertaining to the external or bodily appearance; corporeal; as, personal charms.
- Done in person; without the intervention of another.
- A personal interview.
- personal settings
- Relating to an individual, his character, conduct, motives, or private affairs, in an invidious and offensive manner; as, personal reflections or remarks.
- (grammar) Denoting person; as, a personal pronoun.
Usage notes
Not to be confused with personnel (“employees, staff”).
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
pertaining to human beings
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of or pertaining to a particular person
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pertaining to the external or bodily appearance
done in person
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relating to an individual in an invidious and offensive manne
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Translations to be checked
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External links
- personal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
Noun
personal (plural personals)
- An advertisement by which individuals attempt to meet others with similar interests.
- A movable; a chattel.
Translations
advertisement
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movable
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Statistics
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Most common English words before 1923: laughed · opportunity · lines · #793: personal · due · Henry · society
Anagrams
Spanish
Etymology
From Latin personalis.
Pronunciation
Adjective
personal m and f (plural personales)
Noun
personal m (plural personales)