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Definition of personal - 3 dictionary results

per⋅son⋅al

[pur-suh-nl]
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or coming as from a particular person; individual; private: a personal opinion.
2. relating to, directed to, or intended for a particular person: a personal favor; one's personal life; a letter marked “Personal.”
3. intended for use by one person: a personal car.
4. referring or directed to a particular person in a disparaging or offensive sense or manner, usually involving character, behavior, appearance, etc.: personal remarks.
5. making personal remarks or attacks: to become personal in a dispute.
6. done, carried out, held, etc., in person: a personal interview.
7. pertaining to or characteristic of a person or self-conscious being: That is my personal belief.
8. of the nature of an individual rational being.
9. pertaining to the body, clothing, or appearance: personal cleanliness.
10. provided for one's discretionary use: Employees are allowed 15 vacation days and two personal days.
11. Grammar.
a. noting person: In Latin portō “I carry,”is a personal ending.
b. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the personal pronoun.
12. Law. of or pertaining to personal property: personal interests.
–noun
13. Journalism.
a. a short news paragraph in a newspaper concerning a particular person, as one who is socially prominent, or a group of particular persons who are socially prominent.
b. a brief, private notice in a newspaper or magazine, often addressed to a particular person and typically bearing an abbreviated salutation and signature to preserve its confidentiality, usually printed in a special part of the classified advertising section.
c. a similar notice placed by a person seeking companionship, a spouse, etc.
d. Usually, personals. a column, page, or section of a newspaper, magazine, etc., featuring such notices or items.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < LL persōnālis. See person, -al 1


per⋅son⋅al⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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per·son·al   (pûr'sə-nəl)   
adj.  
  1. Of or relating to a particular person; private: "Like their personal lives, women's history is fragmented, interrupted" (Elizabeth Janeway).

    1. Done, made, or performed in person: a personal appearance.

    2. Done to or for or directed toward a particular person: a personal favor.

    3. Aimed pointedly at the most intimate aspects of a person, especially in a critical or hostile manner: an uncalled-for, highly personal remark.

    4. Tending to make remarks, or be unduly questioning, about another's affairs: As the student debate got heated, it got personal.

  2. Concerning a particular person and his or her private business, interests, or activities; intimate: I have something personal to tell you.

    1. Aimed pointedly at the most intimate aspects of a person, especially in a critical or hostile manner: an uncalled-for, highly personal remark.

    2. Tending to make remarks, or be unduly questioning, about another's affairs: As the student debate got heated, it got personal.

  3. Of or relating to the body or physical being: personal cleanliness.

  4. Relating to or having the nature of a person or self-conscious being: belief in a personal God.

  5. Law Relating to a person's movable property: personal possessions.

  6. Grammar Indicating grammatical person.

n.  
  1. A personal item or notice in a newspaper.

  2. personals A column in a newspaper or magazine featuring personal notices.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: per·son·al
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or affecting a person: as a : of, relating to, or based on the existence or presence of a person —see also PERSONAL INJURY personal jurisdiction at JURISDICTION b : of, relating to, or restricted to a natural person and his or her rights, obligations, affairs, assets, or lifetime personal information> personal recognizance>
2 : of, relating to, or constituting personal property <personal effects> —see also personal property at PROPERTY —compare REALper·son·al·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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