alter-egoとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From Latin alter ego (literally “other me”).

発音

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈɔːl.təɹ iːɡəʊ/
• (General American) IPA: /ˈɔl.tɚ iɡoʊ/
  • (cot–caught merger) IPA: /ˈɑl.tɚ iɡoʊ/

名詞

alter ego (plural alter egos)

1. An individual's alternate personality or persona; another self.

   Clark Kent's coworkers finally discovered his alter ego, Superman.

   • 1897, Mary H. Kingsley, Travels in West Africa, page 538:

     […] a belief in the possibility of a man possessing an alter ego in the form of some animal such as a crocodile or a hippopotamus. It is believed that such a person's life is bound up with that of the animal to such an extent that, whatever affects the one produces a corresponding impression upon the other, and that if one dies the other must speedily do so too.

   • 1938, Robert Berkov, “China's Chiang”, in Strong Man of China: The Story of Chiang Kai-shek‎, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, page 1:

     As one commentator has remarked, all the confusing old three-syllable names that used to index Chinese politics can now be forgotten — the names and their bearers have ceased to be of the slightest importance. In their place stands one man — a small, frail, volatile but tremendously energetic man — who oddly enough has become the alter ego of that powerful, sprawling, sleepy giant that is China.

   • 2012 May 1, Ben Child, “Mark Ruffalo gets green light to play Hulk in six-movie deal”, in the Guardian‎:

     Ruffalo's turn as Bruce Banner and his angry green alter-ego has been widely praised. Avengers Assemble (titled The Avengers outside the UK) is on course to be one of the year's biggest films and has received strong reviews.

2. A very close and intimate friend.
   • 1974 April 13, “Sex Isn't Everything! (personal advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, page 10:

     GWM, 5'10", 175, 40, non-smoker, MCC-er. Good build. Int. in classical music, books, travel. Seeks alter ego with own peace for honest relationship.

3. (law) A corporation used by a person to conduct personal business in an attempt to shield himself or herself from personal liability, and which a court may penetrate by "piercing the corporate veil" to impose liability on the person when they commit fraud or injustice.

同意語

• alter idem

派生語

関連する語

• alteregoism
• alter-egotism

参考

• double life

参照