Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):
   • To attribute human qualities or characteristics to something non-human; to personify. This meaning involves representing an abstract idea, natural force, or inanimate object as having a human form or personality.
   • To pretend to be someone else, often with the intent to deceive; to impersonate. This meaning involves assuming the identity or role of another person, frequently for fraudulent or theatrical purposes.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (Attributing human qualities):

  • Many ancient cultures would personate natural forces like the sun or the wind as powerful deities.
  • The poet chose to personate Time as a relentless old man with a scythe.

• Verb (Pretending to be someone else):

  • The con artist attempted to personate a bank official to gain access to secure files.
  • In the play, the actor must convincingly personate a historical king.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Context: The term "personate" is often used in legal language to describe the criminal act of false impersonation.
  • The charge was to personate a police officer, which is a serious offense.
• Theatrical/Literary Context: In older or more formal usage, it describes an actor taking on a role.
  • The renowned actor was asked to personate the villain in the new production.

Variants and Related Words

• Persona (n): The aspect of someone's character or the social role that is presented to or perceived by others.
  • He adopted a cheerful persona for the interview.
• Personification (n): The act of personifying; the representation of a thing or abstraction as a person.
  • The story used the personification of Greed as a main character.
• Impersonate (v): A more common synonym for the "pretend to be" meaning of personate.
  • He can impersonate several famous politicians.

Synonyms

• For "attribute human qualities": Personify, embody, anthropomorphize.
• For "pretend to be someone": Impersonate, pose as, masquerade as, pass oneself off as.

Related Phrases

• To personate falsely: A formal phrase emphasizing the deceptive nature of the impersonation.
  • He was arrested for attempting to personate falsely a licensed attorney.

Verb

1. attribute human qualities to something
   • The Greeks personated their gods ridiculous
2. pretend to be someone you are not; sometimes with fraudulent intentions
   • She posed as the Czar's daughter