person
c.1225, from O.Fr. persone "human being" (12c., Fr. personne), from L. persona "human being," originally "character in a drama, mask," possibly borrowed from Etruscan phersu "mask." This may be related to Gk. Persephone. The use of -person to replace -man in compounds and avoid alleged sexist connotations is first recorded 1971 (in chairperson). Personify first recorded 1727. Personable "pleasing in one's person" is first attested c.1430. In person "by bodily presence" is from 1568. Person-to-person first recorded 1919, originally of telephone calls.

The reference to Persephone cannot possibly be correct, which makes me doubt the etymology, but what do I know. Another etymology I have heard for "persona = mask" is per-sonare, that is, "to sound through". May be a folk etymology.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?