personality

      English

      Etymology

      Coined between 1350 and 1400 from Middle English personalite, from Middle French, from Late Latin persōnālitās.[1]

      Pronunciation

      • IPA: /ˌpɜrsəˈnælɪti/

      Noun

      personality (plural personalities)

      1. A set of qualities that make a person (or thing) distinct from another.
        • Coleridge
          Personality is individuality existing in itself, but with a nature as a ground.
        The president has a unique personality.
      2. An assumed role or manner of behavior.
        My work PC emulates a Windows personality.
        In his final act, the comedian takes on a child's personality.
      3. A celebrity.
        Johnny Carson was a respected television personality.
      4. Charisma, or qualities that make a person stand out from the crowd.
        The best contestant shows most personality.
        • 1959, Lloyd Price, “Personality”:
          But over and over / I´ll be a fool for you / 'cause you got personality.
      5. Something said or written which refers to the person, conduct, etc., of some individual, especially something of a disparaging or offensive nature; personal remarks.
        • indulgence in personalities
        • Macaulay
          Sharp personalities were exchanged.
        • 1905, O. Henry, Telemachus, Friend
          Perceiving that personalities were not out of order, I asked him what species of beast had long ago twisted and mutilated his left ear.
      6. (law) That quality of a law which concerns the condition, state, and capacity of persons.
        (Can we find and add a quotation of Burrill to this entry?)

      Synonyms

      Derived terms

      Translations

      set of qualities that make a person distinct from other people
      assumed role or manner of behavior
      celebrity
      charisma
      something said or written which refers to the person of some individual
      law: quality of law
      The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
      Translations to be checked

      References

      1. ^ “personality” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.

      Anagrams

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      Last modified on 17 June 2013, at 21:35