anybody
UK: ˈɛnɪbɒdi | US: ˈɛnɪbɑːdi
pron. any person; someone (used in questions or negative statements)
pron. a person of importance (informal)
The word "anybody" combines "any," derived from Old English "ǣnig" (meaning "some" or "one"), with "body," from Old English "bodig" (originally referring to the physical form but later generalized to mean "person"). Over time, "body" evolved to denote an individual, and "anybody" emerged as an indefinite pronoun meaning "any person." The fusion reflects a natural linguistic shift toward abstraction, where "body" lost its literal physical connotation in favor of a broader sense of identity.
Does anybody know the answer to this question?
I didn’t see anybody at the park this morning.
Anybody could make that mistake—it’s not just you.
She’s not just anybody; she’s the CEO of the company.
If anybody calls, tell them I’ll be back soon.