prosopopoeia

noun

pro·so·po·poe·ia | \ prə-ˌsō-pə-ˈpē-ə

How to pronounce prosopopoeia (audio)

, ˌprä-sə-pə-\

Definition of prosopopoeia

1 : a figure of speech in which an imaginary or absent person is represented as speaking or acting

2 : personification

History and Etymology for prosopopoeia

borrowed from Latin prosōpopoeia, borrowed from Greek prosōpopoiía, from prósōpon "face, mask, role, person" (from pros- "facing, opposite" + -ōp- "eye, sight," hence, "the eyes, or sight, opposite own's own") + -poiia "making," from poi-, base of poieîn "to make" + -ia -ia — more at pros-, eye entry 1, poet

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The first known use of prosopopoeia was in 1550

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