-person

-person
-person
1. The use of -person as a gender-neutral suffix denoting occupations instead of -man began in the 1970s with chairperson (see CHAIRMAN), and has spread rather more slowly than might have been expected, possibly because of a reluctance to adopt forms that are more socially acceptable but are linguistically more awkward or cumbersome. The table below lists some typical formations, some having an ephemeral appearance and others likely to achieve some permanence:
word / date
anchorperson / 1976
barperson / 1976
chairperson / 1971
craftsperson / 1976
draughtsperson / 1976
Englishperson / 1977
everyperson / 1978
henchperson / 1973
newspaper / 1976
person
salesperson / 1971
spokesperson / 1972
waitperson / 1980
2. The substitution of person for man in other ways, e.g. in personhandle and personpower, and in gingerbread person, is showing no sign of gaining favour.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • Person — Person: Das seit dem 13. Jh. bezeugte Wort (mhd. persōn‹e›) ist entlehnt aus lat. persona »Maske des Schauspielers; Rolle, die durch diese Maske dargestellt wird; Charakterrolle; Charakter; Mensch, Person«, das selbst wohl aus dem Etrusk. stammt …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • person — [pʉr′sən] n. [ME persone < OFr < L persona, lit., actor s face mask, hence a character, person, prob. < Etr phersu, mask] 1. a human being, esp. as distinguished from a thing or lower animal; individual man, woman, or child: now usually… …   English World dictionary

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  • Person — Sf std. (12. Jh.), mhd. persōn[e] Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus l. persōna (auch: Charakter, Rolle , eigentlich Maske [des Schauspielers] ), dessen Herkunft umstritten ist. Adjektive: personal, personell, persönlich.    Ebenso nndl. persoon, ne.… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

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