Wordiyoperson
LatinVariants
Related Roots
About This Root
From Latin persōna (mask, character in a play, person). Originally a theatrical term for the mask actors wore, then extended to mean a role, and finally a human being. Produces personal, personality, personnel, impersonate (put on a mask), personify, and interpersonal. The journey from 'mask' to 'self' is a fascinating semantic shift.
Associated Words
impersonal
Not relating to a specific person; lacking warmth or personal feeling
impersonate
To pretend to be another person, to deceive or entertain
impersonation
The act of pretending to be another person
interpersonal
Relating to relationships or communication between people
person
an individual human being
personable
Having a pleasant appearance and friendly manner
personage
A famous or important person; a character in a story
personal
relating to a particular person; private
personal-computer
A small computer for individual use
personality
The qualities that make a person unique; personal charisma
personalize
To adapt something to an individual's needs or tastes
personally
In person; as far as oneself is concerned
personification
A perfect embodiment of a quality; giving human traits to abstract ideas
personify
To embody a quality perfectly; to represent an abstraction as a person
personnel
The people employed in an organization; the human resources department