alter ego
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
(Lat. 9ther I, other self). One's double; one's intimate and thoroughly trusted friend; one who has full powers to act for another. Cf. "One's second self" under SECOND.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “alter ego” mean?
(Lat. 9ther I, other self). One's double; one's intimate and thoroughly trusted friend; one who has full powers to act for another. Cf. "One's second self" under SECOND.
Is “alter ego” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.