articles - Is there a usage of "the" that indicates one out of a group of many?


Considering the sentence Nearly anything can be a weapon in a martial artist’s hands., the indefinite article a indiciates that this can be any martial artist out of all in the world.


Next, consider The wise warrior stops a ranged attack before it nears him. Here, the definite article the is used, but still, I am quite certain that the sentence talks about any "wise warrior", or that one would even qualify as a "wise warrior" by performing the named action (among others, probably).


Is this a correct usage of the, indicating one out of a group of many? What is this usage called properly?


Finally, consider Through judicious placement of wounds, the marksman ensures that his enemy cannot escape him.
I am wondering whether this could be the same kind of use for the definite article as in the second example, or whether to a native speaker this sentence indicates a specific individiual (that is a "marksman") that would be clear from context.



Answer



This is a specialised use of "the", which designates a typical or even stereotypical member of the set, not any particular member.


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