| Library / English Dictionary |
PERSONAGE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events
Synonyms:
important person; influential person; personage
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("personage" is a kind of...):
adult; grownup (a fully developed person from maturity onward)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "personage"):
worthy (an important, honorable person (word is often used humorously))
dignitary; high-up; high muckamuck; panjandrum; very important person; VIP (an important or influential (and often overbearing) person)
sun (a person considered as a source of warmth or energy or glory etc)
socialite (a socially prominent person)
sirdar (an important person in India)
sacred cow (a person unreasonably held to be immune to criticism)
power broker; powerbroker (a person who is important by virtue of the people or votes they control)
policy maker (someone who sets the plan pursued by a government or business etc.)
nepotist (a powerful person who shows favoritism to relatives or close friends)
figure; name; public figure (a well-known or notable person)
magnifico (a person of distinguished rank or appearance)
bigwig; kingpin; top banana (the most important person in a group or undertaking)
kingmaker (an important person who can bring leaders to power through the exercise of political influence)
high-muck-a-muck; pooh-bah (an arrogant or conceited person of importance)
hierarch (a person who holds a high position in a hierarchy)
heavy hitter (an influential person who works hard to promote the causes they are interested in)
fixer; influence peddler (someone who intervenes with authorities for a person in trouble (usually using underhand or illegal methods for a fee))
Excellency (a title used to address dignitaries (such as ambassadors or governors); usually preceded by 'Your' or 'His' or 'Her')
eminence grise ((French) a person who exercises power or influence in certain areas without holding an official position)
elder statesman (any influential person whose advice is highly respected)
behemoth; colossus; giant; heavyweight; titan (a person of exceptional importance and reputation)
celebrity; famous person (a widely known person)
big cheese; big deal; big enchilada; big fish; big gun; big shot; big wheel; head honcho (an important influential person)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Another word for person; a person not meriting identification
Example:
a strange personage appeared at the door
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("personage" is a kind of...):
individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)
Context examples:
My aunt walked into that story, and walked out of it, a dread and awful personage; but there was one little trait in her behaviour which I liked to dwell on, and which gave me some faint shadow of encouragement.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
I now inform you that she is my wife, whom I married fifteen years ago,—Bertha Mason by name; sister of this resolute personage, who is now, with his quivering limbs and white cheeks, showing you what a stout heart men may bear.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
Miss Trotwood, or Miss Betsey, as my poor mother always called her, when she sufficiently overcame her dread of this formidable personage to mention her at all (which was seldom), had been married to a husband younger than herself, who was very handsome, except in the sense of the homely adage, handsome is, that handsome does—for he was strongly suspected of having beaten Miss Betsey, and even of having once, on a disputed question of supplies, made some hasty but determined arrangements to throw her out of a two pair of stairs' window.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Ere I had gathered my wits, the classes were again seated: but as all eyes were now turned to one point, mine followed the general direction, and encountered the personage who had received me last night.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
The stone was just broad enough to accommodate, comfortably, another girl and me, at that time my chosen comrade—one Mary Ann Wilson; a shrewd, observant personage, whose society I took pleasure in, partly because she was witty and original, and partly because she had a manner which set me at my ease.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
Silence! ejaculated a voice; not that of Miss Miller, but one of the upper teachers, a little and dark personage, smartly dressed, but of somewhat morose aspect, who installed herself at the top of one table, while a more buxom lady presided at the other.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
Lady Lynn was a large and stout personage of about forty, very erect, very haughty-looking, richly dressed in a satin robe of changeful sheen: her dark hair shone glossily under the shade of an azure plume, and within the circlet of a band of gems.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
