Ironically I just read this article last week, which I found most interesting. I was quite surprised by it because I thought it was a modern thing too!
https://www.dictionary.com/e/they-is...gular-pronoun/
Quote:
|
This chameleon word is also a singular pronoun, and it has been for centuries. Etymologists estimate that as far back as the 1300s, they has been used as a gender neutral pronoun, a word that was substituted in place of either he (a masculine singular pronoun) or she (a feminine singular pronoun)
|