personhood
|per-son-hood|
🇺🇸
/ˈpɝsənˌhʊd/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɜːsənˌhʊd/
state of being a person
Etymology
'personhood' originates from English, specifically formed from the word 'person' plus the suffix '-hood', where 'person' came ultimately from Latin 'persona' meaning 'mask, character' and the suffix '-hood' derives from Old English 'hād' meaning 'state, condition'.
'person' changed from Latin 'persona' to Old French 'persone' and then to Middle English 'persone', eventually becoming the modern English word 'person'. The suffix '-hood' evolved from Old English 'hād' to Middle English forms '-hod'/'-hood' and combined with 'person' to form 'personhood'.
Initially, the elements meant 'mask/character' (persona) and 'state/condition' (-hād); over time the compound came to mean 'the state or condition of being a person', a sense that has been retained in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state, condition, or quality of being a person (often used in philosophical or ethical contexts about identity and moral status).
Philosophers debate when personhood begins.
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Noun 2
legal or social recognition as a person with rights and duties (e.g., 'legal personhood' granted to corporations or entities).
Debates over corporate personhood focus on what rights corporations should have.
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Last updated: 2025/09/12 09:55