Impersonal verb

Impersonal verb
Impersonal Im*per"son*al, a. [L. impersonalis; pref. im- not + personalis personal: cf. F. impersonnel. See {Personal}.] Not personal; not representing a person; not having personality. [1913 Webster]

An almighty but impersonal power, called Fate. --Sir J. Stephen. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • impersonal verb — In current English this term is restricted to verbs used in the third person singular with indefinite it as subject, e.g. it is snowing, when it rains, it makes no difference …   Modern English usage

  • Impersonal verb — In linguistics, an impersonal verb is a verb that cannot take a true subject, because it does not represent an action, occurrence, or state of being of any specific person, place, or thing. The term weather verb is also sometimes used, since such …   Wikipedia

  • impersonal verb — noun A verb used only in the infinitive or in the third person. In the third person, the subject is either implied or a dummy …   Wiktionary

  • Impersonal — Im*per son*al, a. [L. impersonalis; pref. im not + personalis personal: cf. F. impersonnel. See {Personal}.] Not personal; not representing a person; not having personality. [1913 Webster] An almighty but impersonal power, called Fate. Sir J.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • impersonal — [im pʉr′sə nəl] adj. [LL impersonalis] 1. not personal; specif., a) without connection or reference to any particular person [an impersonal comment] b) not existing as a person [an impersonal force] 2. not showing human feelings, esp. sympathy or …   English World dictionary

  • Impersonal — Im*per son*al, n. That which wants personality; specifically (Gram.), an impersonal verb. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • impersonal — /ɪmˈpɜsənəl / (say im persuhnuhl) adjective 1. not personal; without personal reference or connection: an impersonal remark. 2. not exhibiting a warmth of feeling flowing from a personal involvement or interest: an impersonal greeting; an… …  

  • impersonal — impersonally, adv. /im perr seuh nl/, adj. 1. not personal; without reference or connection to a particular person: an impersonal remark. 2. having no personality; devoid of human character or traits: an impersonal deity. 3. lacking human emotion …   Universalium

  • impersonal — im|per|son|al [ ım pɜrsənl ] adjective * 1. ) not showing any friendly feelings or interest in someone: His manner was cold and impersonal. a ) used about large institutions that do not think about people s individual needs and situations: an… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • impersonal */ — UK [ɪmˈpɜː(r)s(ə)nəl] / US [ɪmˈpɜrs(ə)nəl] adjective 1) not showing any friendly feelings or interest in someone His manner was cold and impersonal. a) used about large organizations that do not think about people s individual needs and… …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”