personality English · revision 4587

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la persona}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌpɜː.sənˈæl.ə.ti/, US /ˌpɝː.sənˈæl.ə.t̬i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|personalite]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|personalité]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) and directly [[der|la-med|persōnālitās]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Late Latin persōnālis “personal”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) the source of [[personal]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The quality or fact of being a person: about 1380 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The theological sense, the Deity's consisting of distinct persons, is from 1492.^(OED 1989) A personal being, a person, is from 1678.^(OED 1989) The distinctive character of a self-conscious being, the qualities that make a person what he or she is, is recorded by 1795, from French personnalité.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In psychology, the unique combination of qualities that marks an individual is from 1879,^(OED 1989) and a person who stands out, a celebrity, from 1889.^(OED 1989) The plural ''personalities'', remarks about a person, especially disparaging ones, is from 1772.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – the quality of being a person.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1492 – in theology.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1772 – personal remarks.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1795 – a person's distinctive character.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1879 – in psychology.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1889 – a celebrity.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The combination of qualities and traits of [[character]] and behaviour that make a person distinct.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Lively and attractive qualities of character: ''she has lots of personality''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A famous person, especially in entertainment or sport; a [[celebrity]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The quality or condition of being a person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''personalities'': offensive personal remarks.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tripersonality]]

+ * [[antisocial personality disorder]]

+ * [[cult of personality]]

+ * [[multiple personality]]

+ * [[multiple personality disorder]]

+ * [[personality disorder]]

+ * [[personality inventory]]

+ * [[personality test]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[personal]]

+ * [[person]]

+ * [[personnel]]

+ * [[persona]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Personality is often used in journalism to mean “celebrity”; the American Heritage notes that it suits someone famous for frequent appearances, such as a television host, but is slighting when used of people known for substantive achievements.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}