Personify
/pərˈsɑːn.ɪ.faɪ/noun
To represent or embody something as a person or human-like figure.
Did you know?The word ultimately traces back to Latin persona, the theatrical mask that could also mean a role or character, so personification began as a kind of linguistic mask-making.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
persona
“a mask worn by an actor; a role or character”
Late Latin
Latin
personificare
“to give a person-like form or character to”
14th Century
English
personifien
“to represent as a person; to attribute human qualities”
Modern English
English
personify
“to give human form or qualities to something abstract or nonhuman”
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