Word Study
they
CIDE DICTIONARY
they, pron. pl. [Icel. they, properly nom. pl. masc. of sā, s, , a demonstrative pronoun, akin to the English definite article, AS. sē, seó, , nom. pl. . See That.].
The plural of he, she, or it. They is never used adjectively, but always as a pronoun proper, and sometimes refers to persons without an antecedent expressed. [1913 Webster]
" They is used indefinitely, as our ancestors used man, and as the French use on; as, they say (French on dit), that is, it is said by persons not specified." [1913 Webster]
"Jolif and glad they went unto here [their] rest
And casten hem [them] full early for to sail." [1913 Webster]
And casten hem [them] full early for to sail." [1913 Webster]
"They of Italy salute you." [1913 Webster]
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
they, pron. (obj. them; poss. their, theirs)
1 the people, animals, or things previously named or in question (pl. of HE, SHE, IT(1)).
2 people in general (they say we are wrong).
3 those in authority (they have raised the fees).
4 disp. as a third person sing. indefinite pronoun meaning 'he or she' (anyone can come if they want to).
1 the people, animals, or things previously named or in question (pl. of HE, SHE, IT(1)).
2 people in general (they say we are wrong).
3 those in authority (they have raised the fees).
4 disp. as a third person sing. indefinite pronoun meaning 'he or she' (anyone can come if they want to).
Etymology
ME thei, obj. theim, f. ON their nom. pl. masc., theim dat. pl. of s{aacute} THE that
THESAURUS
they
I, I myself, alter, alter ego, alterum, better self, bureaucracy, directorate, ego, ethical self, he, her, herself, hierarchy, higher echelons, higher-ups, him, himself, inner man, inner self, it, management, me, ministry, my humble self, myself, number one, officialdom, oneself, other self, ourselves, prelacy, ruling class, ruling classes, self, she, subconscious self, subliminal self, superego, the Establishment, the administration, the authorities, the ingroup, the interests, the people upstairs, the power elite, the power structure, the top, them, themselves, top brass, you, yours truly, yourself, yourselvesFor further exploring for "they" in Webster Dictionary Online
