personify
/pəˈsɒnɪfʌɪ
/verb (personifies, personifying, personified) [with object]
1Represent (a quality or concept) by a figure in human form: public pageants and dramas in which virtues and vices were personified...
- In many ways it was simply another reflection of the very human tendency to personify the forces of evil.
- Her long, thick hair, which is rendered with rubbed graphite, expands as it falls like water to the image's edge; she might almost be personifying a natural force.
- Because prejudice is not personified I believe that it was not to be the object of Jane Austen's sharper criticism.
1.1Attribute a personal nature or human characteristics to (something non-human): in the poem the oak trees are personified...
- Ultimately, his point - or question, rather - is serious and clear: why must non-humans be personified in order for us to care?
- I mean, sure, there are plenty of books where the characters are animals, but they're personified animals.
- The trucks seem to personify the pent-up rage that's come to characterise car culture.
Synonyms
humanize, anthropomorphize, personalize
1.2Represent or embody (a quality, concept, etc.) in a physical form: the car personified motoring fun for two decades...
- These heroes have served culturally and historically to personify and embody Manifest Destiny, the best of America's imaginary frontier in the flesh.
- He personifies superficiality and embodies the fact that they have nothing more to say politically.
- To Kathleen and the children he was kindness personified and was always there to lend a helping hand when anyone was in trouble.
Synonyms
epitomize, embody, be the embodiment/incarnation of, typify, exemplify, represent, symbolize, stand for, give human form/shape to, body forth, incarnate, be representative of, encapsulate, manifest
rare image
Derivatives
personifier
- Japan's life-sized pop idols are produced and marketed as personifiers of a typical ‘girl or boy next door.’
Origin
Early 18th century: from French personnifier, from personne 'person'.