Everyman

Everyman

a medieval English morality play in which the central figure represents mankind, whose earthly destiny is dramatized from the Christian viewpoint

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Everyman

makes pilgrimage to God, unaccompanied by erstwhile friends. [Br. Lit.: Everyman]

See: Journey

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Everyman

medieval play demonstrating man’s salvation dependent on his righteousness. [Br. Lit.: Everyman]

See: Righteousness

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Everyman

A. N. Other

British John Doe. [Br. Usage: Misc.]

Brother Jonathan

British slang for the typical American. [Br. Usage: Misc.]

Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov

embodiment of ordinary Russian person. [Russ. Usage: LLEI, I: 292]

Jane Doe

female counterpart of John Doe. [Am. Usage: Misc.]

Jean Crapaud

personification of peculiarities of French people. [Fr. Usage: LLEI, I: 292]

John Bull

any Englishman, or Englishmen collectively. [Br. Lit.: History of John Bull, Brewer Dictionary, 591]

John Doe

formerly, any plaintiff; now just anybody. [Am. Pop. Usage: Brewer Dictionary, 329]

John Q. Citizen

fictitious average man on the street. [Am. Jour.: Mathews, 910]

John Q. Public

fictitious typical citizen. [Am. Jour.: Mathews, 910]

John Q. Voter

fictitious typical citizen. [Am. Jour.: Mathews, 910]

John a Noakes

fictitious, litigious character; used in legal proceedings. [Br. Legal Usage: Wheeler, 260]

John a Styles

fictitious, litigious counterpart to John a Noakes. [Br. Legal Usage: Wheeler, 260]

Richard Roe

formerly, any defendant; now just anybody. [Am. Pop. Usage: Brewer Dictionary, 329]

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.