Impersonal

English

Etymology

From French impersonnel < Latin impersonalis < Latin im- (“‘not’”) + personalis (“‘personal’”)

Adjective

Impersonal (comparative {{{1}}}, superlative {{{2}}})

Positive Impersonal

Comparative {{{1}}}

Superlative {{{2}}}

1. not personal; not representing a person; not having personality

   An almighty but impersonal power, called Fate. –Sir J. Stephen.

2. Lacking warmth or emotion; cold.

   She sounded impersonal as she gave her report of the Nazi death camps.

3. (grammar, of a verb or other word) not having a subject, or having a third person pronoun without an antecedent

   The verb “rain” is impersonal in sentences like “It’s raining.”

Related terms

• personal

Derived terms

• impersonal verb

Translations

not representing a person

Czech: neosobní cs(cs) m.

German: unpersönlich de(de)

lacking warmth or emotion

Czech: neosobní cs(cs) m.

German: unpersönlich de(de)

grammar

Breton: dic'hour br(br)

French: impersonnel fr(fr)

Anagrams

• aeilmnoprs,
• mailperson
• prolamines

el:impersonal fa:impersonal fr:impersonal io:impersonal kn:impersonal hu:impersonal ml:impersonal pl:impersonal ru:impersonal simple:impersonal te:impersonal tr:impersonal vi:impersonal zh:impersonal