PERSONAGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does personage mean? 

• PERSONAGE (noun)
  The noun PERSONAGE has 2 senses:

1. another word for person; a person not meriting identification

2. a person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events

  Familiarity information: PERSONAGE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PERSONAGE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Another word for person; a person not meriting identification

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Context example:

a strange personage appeared at the door

Hypernyms ("personage" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

important person; influential person; personage

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"):

bigwig; kingpin; top banana (the most important person in a group or undertaking)

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)

big cheese; big deal; big enchilada; big fish; big gun; big shot; big wheel; head honcho (an important influential person)

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)

 Context examples 

How that personage haunted my dreams, I need scarcely tell you.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

He appeared a taciturn, and perhaps a proud personage; but he was very kind to me.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting personage than to herself.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

But he did not meet that exalted personage, thanks to a Cerberus of an office boy, of tender years and red hair, who guarded the portals.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He expressed his pleasure at seeing so many good sportsmen under one roof, and acknowledged the honour which had been done both to his guests and himself by the presence there that night of the illustrious personage whom he should refer to as the Earl of Chester.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I answered, laughing, that I thought we might get through it in that time, but that he must come also; for he would find that his renown had preceded him, and that he was almost as great a personage as I was.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Miss Woodhouse was so great a personage in Highbury, that the prospect of the introduction had given as much panic as pleasure; but the humble, grateful little girl went off with highly gratified feelings, delighted with the affability with which Miss Woodhouse had treated her all the evening, and actually shaken hands with her at last!

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

A distinguished personage happened to visit the school that morning, and Amy's beautifully drawn maps received praise, which honor to her foe rankled in the soul of Miss Snow, and caused Miss March to assume the airs of a studious young peacock.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

One day last spring, in town, I was in company with two men, striking instances of what I am talking of; Lord St Ives, whose father we all know to have been a country curate, without bread to eat; I was to give place to Lord St Ives, and a certain Admiral Baldwin, the most deplorable-looking personage you can imagine; his face the colour of mahogany, rough and rugged to the last degree; all lines and wrinkles, nine grey hairs of a side, and nothing but a dab of powder at top. 'In the name of heaven, who is that old fellow?' said I to a friend of mine who was standing near, (Sir Basil Morley).

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

The personage on the well-brink now seemed to accost her; to make some request:—She hasted, let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him to drink.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)