anyonepron.
/ˈɛnɪwʌn/, U.S. /ˈɛniˌwən/ 1. Frequently in negative, interrogative, and conditional contexts: any person or persons at all; even a single individual.
ΚΠ
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 7781 He that put himselven under, As who seith, comun overal, He lest the love special Of eny on, if sche be wyse.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) cxxxi. 174 For he wende wel secretely to saye his rayson, and wend not that ony one had herd hym, but her self alone.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. vi But if that any one be in suche maner case. That he wyl chalange the maystershyp fro me, yet in my Shyp can I nat want a place.
1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters i. xii. f. xviiv I se not greatly why I shuld mystrust any one that semith honest & tellith a good tale of god.
1591 Troublesome Raigne Iohn i. sig. B4 Any one that knoweth how to carpe, Will scarcely iudge vs both one Countrey borne.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) i. iii. 182 Doth any one accuse Yorke for a Traytor? View more context for this quotation
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 46 If any one maintain not his Parents, let him be infamous, as likewise he that devours his patrimony.
1744 T. Odell Prodigal i. i. 3 Scarce any one is such a Fool but he hath a Sub-Fool that he can laugh at.
1796 F. Burney Camilla III. vi. vi. 252 If any one plays their tricks upon me, they shall pay for their fun.
1831 T. L. Peacock Crotchet Castle 178 We would print these dialogues if we thought any one would read them.
1860 L. V. Harcourt Diaries G. Rose I. 4 He never abuses any one.
1915 Aeronautics 13 Oct. 256/2 I have never heard anyone pronounce aeroplane in any other way than ‘airoplane’.
1933 Punch 31 May 597 There doesn't seem to be anyone about in this cock-eyed town.
2009 GQ Feb. 21/2 Why would anyone leave their job right now?
2. In affirmative contexts, frequently with emphatic force: a person or persons of any kind; any individual, without distinction or limitation; (also) every person (compare any adj. 1c).
ΚΠ
1606 J. Marston Parasitaster iii. F 1 Las we are now growne old, weake sighted, alas anyone fooles vs.
1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer Hist. Lapland 109 Any one that is found delinquent in this kind, is branded for a fowl plaier.
1706 A. Pope Let. 10 Apr. in Corr. (1956) I. 16 They would not be chang'd so much, but any one would know 'em for the same at first sight.
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 167 Any one may do a casual act of good nature, but a continuation of them shews it is a part of the temperature.
1847 T. Arnold Let. 23 Oct. in N.Z. Lett. (1966) 10 In Prince Edward's Island, the winter..is enough to deter anyone but a polar bear.
1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 448/2 With this card anyone can at once decide what is the matter with his horse.
1907 Yale Rev. Dec. 136 The book will put anyone in a good humor.
1962 J. Franklyn Dict. Nicknames 49 Hoppy, the nickname of anyone who walks with a limp.
2011 Independent 1 July (Viewspaper section) 7/3 Anyone can come up with a string of well-worn phrases to get a cheap laugh.
3. Used interrogatively as a term of collective address, soliciting individual responses either from an assembled group or (indirectly) from a readership, audience, etc. Frequently in anyone for ——?: ‘does anybody want (or know) ——?’, ‘is there any interest in ——?’ Later also used to suggest that a specified phenomenon (denoted by the immediately preceding word) is new, unfamiliar, or outlandish: ‘would you believe?’
ΚΠ
1868 J. W. Kirton One Thousand Temperance Anecd. & Facts 68 Still you may hear voices calling aloud,—Anyone for Pledge-Street?
1906 Temple Bar May 419 At last the cry rang out, ‘Anyone for the shore?’..and a general rising and stampede took place.
1953 J. van Druten Playwright at Work viii. 99 You will emerge with something as unreal as the juveniles in plays..impertinently swinging tennis rackets..with the remark: ‘Tennis, anyone?’
1994 Interzone Sept. 60/3 It would appear that a whole new sub-genre is in its birth throes. Faeriepunk, anyone?
2003 N. Slater Toast 28 ‘Anyone for jam?’ she would say.
Phrases
P1. anyone else: any other person; anybody else.
ΚΠ
1601 J. Deacon & J. Walker Summarie Answere to Darel 165 We are not to respect what any one else hath..done; but what Christ..hath first done himselfe.
1742 H. Walpole Let. 3 Mar. (1857) I. 137 Think of his talking of making it dangerous for anyone else to accept the first ministership!
1846 S. Wilberforce Let. 31 July in Let.-bks. (1970) 68 I have never yet proposed to anyone else to undertake this office.
1916 M. Gyte Diary 20 Aug. (1999) 98 She does not want to teach in the school nor does she wish anyone else to do so.
1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting (1994) 134 Statistically speaking..you're more likely to be killed by a member of your own family..than by anyone else.
2015 J. Niven All Bright Places 125 You don't think about anyone else other than yourself.
P2. anyone (also everyone) who is anyone: any person considered important, influential, or discerning. Cf. anybody (also everybody) who is anybody at anybody pron. and n. Phrases 4.
ΚΠ
1826 Lit. Lounger July 305 People may say what they please, but that book of hers is a dreadful show up, as I and any one, who is any one, can testify.
1891 S. J. Weyman New Rector I. i. 4 It was once a year, or twice at the most, that any one who was any one passed away.
1922 Trident of Delta Delta Delta Apr. 316 So you'd better join the party, If you don't—then very well, But everyone who's anyone, Is going to Cornell.
1974 L. Deighton Spy Story ix. 97 You can ask anyone... Anyone who is anyone knows.
2009 WWD 28 May 16/2 Anyone who's anyone wants to meet him.
P3. anyone's game (also match, race) and variants: a contest which either side or any competitor could win; an evenly balanced contest. Also figurative. Cf. anybody's game (also race, match) at anybody pron. and n. Phrases 2.
ΚΠ
1872 London Daily News 5 Aug. 6/3 To the finish it appeared to be anyone's race.
1881 Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 2 May 4 Splendid play was shown on both sides, it being anyone's game up to the finish.
1920 Jewelers' Circular 30 June 87/2 [It] proved to be the longest match of the entire tournament and was anyone's match to the last hole.
1997 Amer. Motorcyclist Aug. 53 (heading) Wide-open start for dirt-track. It's anyone's series to win.
2015 Sunday Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 16 Aug. I had learned that it's anyone's game in Miss Ireland! I think other people expected me to win, which made me feel massive pressure.
P4. anyone's guess: = anybody's guess at anybody pron. and n. Phrases 3.
ΚΠ
1905 Dominion Med. Monthly July 22 What is the pathology of neurasthenia? The answer is almost anyone's guess.
1913 Mag. Wall St. July 168/2 It is anyone's guess now whether President Wilson has observed the severe and nerve-racking destruction of values that has been occurring lately.
1958 N. F. Simpson Resounding Tinkle i. ii, in Observer Plays 240 How close we're getting to the original tonight is anyone's guess.
1994 Independent on Sunday 30 Oct. (Business section) 2/1 The cost is anyone's guess, but it will certainly be north of £1 bn.
P5. colloquial (chiefly British and Irish English). to be anyone's: to be (or be regarded as) highly susceptible to casual sexual or romantic advances; (also in extended use) to be extremely easily influenced or persuaded; cf. to be anybody's at anybody pron. and n. Phrases 5.
ΚΠ
1956 R. Croft-Cooke Seven Thunders vi. 81 You got to admit she's anyone's. I mean, haven't you, Dave?
1980 Gay News 11 Dec. 2/2 As all his intimates (and half North London) know, Michael is anyone's for a man and/or a pint of lager.
2019 Sun (Ireland ed.) (Nexis) 19 May Put an educational slant on anything and I'm anyone's! Slime making and learning about our planet is a win-win.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
pron.a1393