személyben

Személyben is a locative form of the Hungarian noun szeméy? No, szeméIy. It denotes “in the person” and is used to describe presence, representation, or embodiment by a specific person or by a legal entity acting as such. The word is typically found in formal or legal language and in historical or literary contexts.

Linguistic notes

- Személyben is formed from szeméy? + -ben, the locative suffix indicating location or role. It is one of several locative cases based on szeméy? (person).

- The phrase can appear with a preceding agent in a genitive-like or identifying noun, yielding constructions such as “X személyében” meaning “in the person of X.”

- In contemporary everyday language, the adverbial sense “in person” is commonly conveyed by személyesen; szeméy?ben therefore tends to have a more formal, representational, or juridical shading.

Usage and scope

- Legal and administrative contexts: used to indicate that an action is taken by or on behalf of a person or by a legal entity functioning in a literal capacity. For example, a contract may be signed “a jogi személyben” by the organization, or a representative may speak “a király személyében” in historical prose.

- Historical and literary texts: employed to describe a figure who embodies or stands for a higher authority or office.

- Everyday language: less frequent; more natural alternatives are személyesen (in person) or a konkrét személy nevében (in the name of a specific person).

Relationship to related terms

- szeméy? and személyes: szeméy? denotes the concept of a person; személyes relates to personal or intimate aspects.

- jogi személy: a legal entity; szeméy?ben can appear in phrases indicating acting in that capacity.

See also: szeméy? személy, jogi személy, személyes, személyesen.