Notables

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Prominent individuals recognized for their significant impact in various domains
2. Individuals distinguished by exceptional accomplishments that are widely acknowledged
3. People who are well-known and respected for their influence or achievements

Etymology: "Notables" is simply the plural of "notable," so the story belongs to the adjective. That word once meant "useful" or "profitable" before it came to mean "worthy of attention." Its Middle English form carried the older sense of "worthy of note, profitable, useful," and it drew on Anglo-Norman "notable" and the Latin "notabilis," meaning "noteworthy" or "extraordinary," from "notare," "to note or mark." The surprising thread runs through Old English "notu," meaning "use, profit, advantage, employment." The word's original sense concerned practical benefit, which sits behind the modern meaning. A thing that was notable was one worth taking account of, and in time that came to mean one that stood out from the crowd. The noun form, used for people of distinction, grew out of that adjective. Its plural, "notables," therefore names those whose exceptional standing has been widely recognised.

Synonyms: celebrities, prominent figures, famous people