person
UK[ˈpɜːs(ə)n]US[ˈpɜːrs(ə)n]
n
A human being regarded as an individual.
n
A category used in grammar to distinguish between the speaker (first person), the addressee (second person), and others (third person).
Etymology
The word 'person' entered English in the early 13th century from the Old French 'persone', meaning "human being, individual". The Old French term derived from the Latin 'persona', which originally referred to a theatrical mask worn by an actor, and by extension, the character played by that actor, or a role in life. This Latin word is thought to have its roots in the Etruscan 'phersu', meaning "mask". The fascinating semantic journey, therefore, is from a concrete theatrical mask, to the character or social role it represents, and finally to the abstract concept of an individual human being with their own identity and legal standing.
Analysis
The modern English word 'person' is a simplex word. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller, independent morphemes based on its current English spelling. Its core unit is the entire word 'person'.
Examples
She is a very kind and thoughtful person.
The legal document must be signed in person.
In this sentence, the pronoun "they" is used in the third person.