mensch (mens̸h, menc̸h)
noun pl. menschen mensch′en (-ən)
a person, esp. a man, regarded as being honorable, decent, and responsible and having strength of character
Etymology: Yiddish < Ger, person < OHG mannisco, orig., human < mann, man + isc-, -ish
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
I always knew that mensch was a Yiddish term, but I thought it was a derogatory one.--- Shows you what I know--- about American -Yiddish anyway. Many Yiddish words are certainly a part of American slang. Certainly there is a book or three on the topic.
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