personify

per·son·i·fy

verb \pər-ˈsä-nə-ˌfī\

per·son·i·fiedper·son·i·fy·ing

Definition of PERSONIFY

transitive verb

1

: to conceive of or represent as a person or as having human qualities or powers

2

: to be the embodiment or personification of : incarnate <a teacher who personified patience>

— per·son·i·fi·er \-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun

Examples of PERSONIFY

1. The ancient Greeks personified the forces of nature as gods and goddesses.
2. Justice is personified as a woman with her eyes covered.

First Known Use of PERSONIFY

circa 1741

Related to PERSONIFY

Synonyms: body, epitomize, express, externalize, incarnate, incorporate, instantiate, manifest, materialize, personalize, embody, substantiate

Antonyms: disembody

Related Words: actualize, concretize, realize; exemplify, illustrate, image, objectify, symbolize, typify

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Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

Rhymes with PERSONIFY

acetify, acidify, ammonify, aniline dye, a priori, beatify, bourgeoisify, commodify, complexify, decalcify, decertify, declassify, demystify, denazify, desanctify, desertify, detoxify, Dioscuri, disqualify, dissatisfy, diversify, electric eye, electrify, emulsify, esterify, exemplify, facetiae, Gorno-Altay, hang out to dry, Helvetii, humidify, identify, indemnify, intensify, money supply, objectify, preoccupy, reliquiae, revivify, rigidify, sacrifice fly, saponify, see eye to eye, solemnify, solidify, syllabify, transmogrify, turn a blind eye, undersupply, vox populi, water supply