denizen
someone who resides in, or often visits a particular place
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
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Amongst the colourful DENIZENS of the Oxfordshire music scene resides the small, yet potently rich, Hip Hop, Dubstep and Drum & Bass set.
(BBC News)
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New findings suggest that the mysterious DENIZENS of the deep may, like whales, be damaged by humans surveying the sea bed.
(New Scientist magazine)
Amongst the colourful DENIZENS of the Oxfordshire music scene resides the small, yet potently rich, Hip Hop, Dubstep and Drum & Bass set.
(BBC News)
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New findings suggest that the mysterious DENIZENS of the deep may, like whales, be damaged by humans surveying the sea bed.
(New Scientist magazine)
Did you
know?
denizen
noun
- a person, animal, or plant that lives or is found in a particular place
- a foreigner allowed certain rights in their adopted country (chiefly British)
(Oxford Dictionaries)
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Denizen is from the 15th century and stems from the Anglo-French deinzein and Middle English denisein, meaning "within, inside." These derive further from the Late Latin deintus (de = from + intus = within).
Historically, denizen referred to an alien given certain rights of citizenship, or a naturalized citizen, a term used mainly by the British. This usage is illustrated by an entry from the 1832 edition of the Webster’s Dictionary:
1. In England, an alien who is made a subject by the King’s letters patent, holding a middle state between an alien and a natural born subject. He may take land by purchase or devise, which an alien cannot; but he cannot take by inheritance.
Denizen can also be used to describe people, plants or animals. The plural form – denizens - is very common. When referring to people, it might mean the residents of a town, city, state or country (The denizens of New Orleans are preparing for the annual Mardi Gras celebration) or of a place frequented by someone (The denizens of the bar stayed until closing time).
In ecology, a denizen is an animal or plant naturalized in a region (Scientists are examining the denizens of the forest). Denizen is also used as a transitive verb in the form "to make a denizen of" (The refugees were made denizens after six months).
That denizen and its synonym "citizen" have the same ending is no coincidence. Citizen stems from the Anglo-French citezein and Old French citejen (city or town dweller), but the spelling was subsequently altered (-zen) through the influence of denizen.
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SYNONYMS
dweller, inhabitant, occupant, citizen, habitant, native, reside, aborigine
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"You'll find a lot of artists among the denizens of the south side of town.."
noun
- a person, animal, or plant that lives or is found in a particular place
- a foreigner allowed certain rights in their adopted country (chiefly British)
(Oxford Dictionaries)
---
Denizen is from the 15th century and stems from the Anglo-French deinzein and Middle English denisein, meaning "within, inside." These derive further from the Late Latin deintus (de = from + intus = within).
Historically, denizen referred to an alien given certain rights of citizenship, or a naturalized citizen, a term used mainly by the British. This usage is illustrated by an entry from the 1832 edition of the Webster’s Dictionary:
1. In England, an alien who is made a subject by the King’s letters patent, holding a middle state between an alien and a natural born subject. He may take land by purchase or devise, which an alien cannot; but he cannot take by inheritance.
Denizen can also be used to describe people, plants or animals. The plural form – denizens - is very common. When referring to people, it might mean the residents of a town, city, state or country (The denizens of New Orleans are preparing for the annual Mardi Gras celebration) or of a place frequented by someone (The denizens of the bar stayed until closing time).
In ecology, a denizen is an animal or plant naturalized in a region (Scientists are examining the denizens of the forest). Denizen is also used as a transitive verb in the form "to make a denizen of" (The refugees were made denizens after six months).
That denizen and its synonym "citizen" have the same ending is no coincidence. Citizen stems from the Anglo-French citezein and Old French citejen (city or town dweller), but the spelling was subsequently altered (-zen) through the influence of denizen.
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SYNONYMS
dweller, inhabitant, occupant, citizen, habitant, native, reside, aborigine
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"You'll find a lot of artists among the denizens of the south side of town.."
