n.
Pronunciation: ' p ə rs-n ə l, ' p ə r-s ə -n ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French personel, from Late Latin personalis, from Latin persona
Date: 14th century
1 : of, relating to, or affecting a particular person : PRIVATE , INDIVIDUAL < personal ambition> < personal financial gain>
2 a : done in person without the intervention of another also : proceeding from a single person b : carried on between individuals directly <a personal interview>
3 : relating to the person or body
4 : relating to an individual or an individual's character, conduct, motives, or private affairs often in an offensive manner <a personal insult>
5 a : being rational and self-conscious < personal , responsive government is still possible ― John Fischer> b : having the qualities of a person rather than a thing or abstraction <a personal devil>
6 : of, relating to, or constituting personal property <a personal estate>
7 : denoting grammatical person
8 : intended for private use or use by one person <a personal stereo>