costui

Italian

Etymology

From Vulgar Latin *eccum istūi, (genitive-)dative masculine singular of *eccum iste, from Latin eccum + istī, influenced by cui (“to whom”). Compare Romanian acestui, Old French cestui.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /koˈstuj/
• Rhymes: -uj
• Hyphenation: co‧stùi

Pronoun

costui m (feminine costei, plural costoro, demonstrative)

1. (literary, used to indicate a person close to the speaker) he, him; this man
   • 1911, Giovanni Diodatti, Il Nuovo Testamento del Nostro Signore e Salvatore Gesù Cristo‎^[1], San Giovanni 7:25, page 247:

     Non è costui quel ch'essi cercan di uccidere?

     Isn't this the man they are trying to kill?

Usage notes

• The pronouns costui, costei, and costoro are often pejorative.

Related terms

• colui
• lui

Anagrams

• Sciuto, scuoti, uscito