A person of high rank, status, or importance; a dignitary; a noble, lord, or prince; = estate, n. 3c. Obsolete.

With plural agreement. The aristocracy; leaders and people of rank and influence in the arts, politics, the professions, etc. Occasionally singular…

A person of importance, distinction, or authority; a ‘somebody’ as opposed to a ‘nobody’. Chiefly (and earliest attested) in anybody (also everybody)…

= celestiality, n. 2. humorous.

an important or powerful person; cf. bug, n.1 2.

transferred. A person who wears a wig (professionally); a dignitary. colloquial. (Cf. bigwig, n.)

A Celestial (Chinese) dignitary. humorous.

figurative. (the) salt of the earth (after Matthew v. 13): the excellent of the earth; formerly, in trivial use, the powerful, aristocratic, or…

colloquial. A person of high rank, position, or status. Cf. higher-up, n.

a famous or leading person, organization, etc.; a top-ranker.

A very important person, esp. a high-ranking guest. Frequently Military slang in early use.