Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Impersonal
Im-per′son-al
,Adj.
Not personal; not representing a person; not having personality.
An almighty but
impersonal
power, called Fate. Sir J. Stephen.
Impersonal verb
(Gram.)
, a verb used with an indeterminate subject, commonly, in English, with the impersonal pronoun it; as, it rains; it snows; methinks (it seems to me). Many verbs which are not strictly impersonal are often used impersonally; as, it goes well with him.
Im-per′son-al
,Noun.
That which wants personality;
specifically
(Gram.)
, an impersonal verb.
Webster 1828 Edition
Impersonal
IMPER'SONAL
,Adj.
In grammar, an impersonal verb is one which is not employed with the first and second persons, I and thou or you, we and ye, for nominatives, and which has no variation of ending to express them, but is used only with the termination of the third person singular, with it for a nominative in English,and without a nominative in Latin; as, it rains, it becomes us to be modest; L. toedet; libet; pugnatur.
Definition 2024
impersonal
impersonal
English
Adjective
impersonal (comparative more impersonal, superlative most impersonal)
- Not personal; not representing a person; not having personality.
- An almighty but impersonal power, called Fate. –Sir J. Stephen.
- Lacking warmth or emotion; cold.
- She sounded impersonal as she gave her report of the Nazi death camps.
- (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
Synonyms
- (grammar): monopersonal, unipersonal
Derived terms
Translations
not representing a person
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lacking warmth or emotion
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grammar
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