Definition of the word they

The word "they" has a long and evolving history. The earliest known use of "they" as a pronoun dates back to Old English, around the 7th century. Initially, "they" had both masculine and feminine forms, but over time, it became more commonly used as a neuter pronoun to refer to an unknown or indefinite person or people. In Middle English (circa 1100-1500), "they" became the dominant form for the third-person plural, replacing the earlier forms "heo" and "hie". The modern English pronoun "they" has retained its use in the third-person plural, and has also developed to be used as a singular gender-neutral pronoun to refer to individuals who identify as non-binary or genderqueer. Throughout its history, the word "they" has adapted to the changing social and linguistic landscape, and continues to be an essential part of the English language.