third person
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word third person. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word third person, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say third person in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word third person you have here. The definition of the word third person will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofthird person, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
Noun
third person (countable and uncountable, plural third persons)
- (linguistics, with "the") The words, word-forms, and grammatical structures, taken collectively, that are normally used of people or things other than the speaker or the audience.
- In English, the third person consists of pronouns such as he, she, it, and they, verbs such as is and has, and most nouns.
- 2006, Alexander McCall Smith, Love Over Scotland, Random House Digital, published 2007, →ISBN, pages 243–4:
- “Yes,” said Dr Fairbairn. “Very. And then there’s the interesting question of those who use the third person about themselves.”
“Oh,” said Irene, vaguely. It occurred to her that she used the third person on occasion when talking to Bertie. She said things such as: “Mummy is watching, Bertie. Mummy is watching Bertie very closely.” That was using the third person, was it not? In fact, it was a double use of the third person; first (I, mother figure) became third, as did second (you, son). What did this reveal about Irene? she asked herself. No, deliberate play; what does that reveal about me?
- (grammar) the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement. In English, pronouns used with the third person include he, she, it, one, they, and who.
- “Is” is the third-person singular of “to be”.
- A form of narrative writing using verbs in the third person in order to give the impression that the action is happening to another person.
- (video games) A form of video game in which the graphical view depicts the player character, rather than the view through the character's eyes.
- (law) Someone not associated with a particular matter; a third party.
- 1828, Comprising Reports of Cases in the Courts of Chancery, King's Bench, and Common Pleas, from 1822 to 1835: and Law Journal Reports divided into Equity and Bankruptcy Cases. Common Law Cases 1836-1858, page 11:
- The plaintiffs here are third persons, and cannot be made responsible for the inadequate judgment or the improper exercise of power by the defendant's wife.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see third, person.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
the form of a verb used when the subject of a sentence is not the audience or the one making the statement
|
law: third party — see third party