personify
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per·son·i·fy
(pər-sŏn′ə-fī′)tr.v. per·son·i·fied, per·son·i·fy·ing, per·son·i·fies
1. To think of or represent (an inanimate object or abstraction) as having personality or the qualities, thoughts, or movements of a living being: "To make history or psychology alive I personify it" (Anaïs Nin).
2. To represent (an object or abstraction) by a human figure.
3. To represent (an abstract quality or idea): This character personifies evil.
4. To be the embodiment or perfect example of: "Stalin now personified bolshevism in the eyes of the world" (A.J.P. Taylor).
[French personnifier, from personne, person, from Old French persone; see person.]
per·son′i·fi′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
personify
(pɜːˈsɒnɪˌfaɪ)vb (tr) , -fies, -fying or -fied
1. to attribute human characteristics to (a thing or abstraction)
2. to represent (an abstract quality) in human or animal form
3. (Art Terms) (of a person or thing) to represent (an abstract quality), as in art or literature
4. to be the embodiment of. Also (rare): personize, personise
perˈsoniˌfiable adj
perˈsoniˌfier n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
per•son•i•fy
(pərˈsɒn əˌfaɪ)v.t. -fied, -fy•ing.
1. to attribute a human nature or character to (an inanimate object or an abstraction).
2. to represent (a thing or abstraction) in the form of a person, as in art.
3. to be an embodiment of; typify: He personifies the ruthless ambition of some executives.
[1720–30; compare French personnifier, Italian personificare]
per•son′i•fi`a•ble, adj.
per•son′i•fi`er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
personify
Past participle: personified
Gerund: personifying
Imperative |
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personify |
personify |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Verb | 1. | personify - invest with or as with a body; give body to |
2. | ![]() | |
3. | personify - attribute human qualities to something; "The Greeks personated their gods ridiculous" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
personify
verb embody, represent, express, mirror, exemplify, symbolize, typify, incarnate, image (rare), epitomize, body forth She seemed to personify goodness and nobility.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
personify
verbTo represent (an abstraction, for example) in or as if in bodily form:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
megszemélyesítmegtestesít
personify
[pɜːˈsɒnɪfaɪ] VT (= epitomize) → personificar; (= represent as person) → personificarhe is greed personified → es la codicia personificada or en persona, es la personificación de la codicia
he personified the spirit of resistance → encarnó el espíritu de la resistencia
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
personify
vt → personifizieren; (= be the personification of also) → verkörpern; he is evil personified → er ist das personifizierte Böse or das Böse in Person
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995