Everyman
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Everyman,
late-15th-century English morality play. It is the counterpart of the Dutch play Elckerlijk; which of these anonymous plays is the original has been the subject of controversy. When Everyman is summoned by Death, he can persuade none of his friends—Beauty, Kindred, Worldly Goods—to go with him, except Good Deeds. This allegory has been used as the basis of plays by later writers and has remained popular in modern times.Everyman
makes pilgrimage to God, unaccompanied by erstwhile friends. [Br. Lit.: Everyman]
See: Journey
Everyman
medieval play demonstrating man’s salvation dependent on his righteousness. [Br. Lit.: Everyman]
See: Righteousness
Everyman
A. N. OtherBritish John Doe. [Br. Usage: Misc.]
British slang for the typical American. [Br. Usage: Misc.]
embodiment of ordinary Russian person. [Russ. Usage: LLEI, I: 292]
female counterpart of John Doe. [Am. Usage: Misc.]
personification of peculiarities of French people. [Fr. Usage: LLEI, I: 292]
any Englishman, or Englishmen collectively. [Br. Lit.: History of John Bull, Brewer Dictionary, 591]
formerly, any plaintiff; now just anybody. [Am. Pop. Usage: Brewer Dictionary, 329]
fictitious average man on the street. [Am. Jour.: Mathews, 910]
fictitious typical citizen. [Am. Jour.: Mathews, 910]
fictitious typical citizen. [Am. Jour.: Mathews, 910]
fictitious, litigious character; used in legal proceedings. [Br. Legal Usage: Wheeler, 260]
fictitious, litigious counterpart to John a Noakes. [Br. Legal Usage: Wheeler, 260]
formerly, any defendant; now just anybody. [Am. Pop. Usage: Brewer Dictionary, 329]
Everyman
a medieval English morality play in which the central figure represents mankind, whose earthly destiny is dramatized from the Christian viewpoint