Definition

Noun: 1. The act of portraying a character: The performance of playing a specific role, especially on stage or in a dramatic context, involving speech, action, and gesture to represent that character. 2. The act of imitating another individual: The action of copying or assuming the mannerisms, speech, or appearance of another specific person.

Usage and Examples

• Portraying a character:
  • Her personation of Lady Macbeth was both powerful and nuanced.
  • The actor's personation required extensive research into the historical figure's life.
• Imitating another person:
  • His clever personation of the manager fooled the new employees for a moment.
  • The comedian is known for his spot-on personation of famous politicians.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Context: In some legal systems, "personation" can refer to the criminal act of falsely assuming the identity of another person with intent to deceive or defraud (a more formal term for in this context).
  • He was charged with personation after attempting to vote using his brother's identity.

Variants and Related Words

• Personate (verb): To act or play the part of a character; to impersonate.
  • He will personate the villain in the upcoming play.
• Impersonation (noun): The act of pretending to be another person. Often used interchangeably with "personation," especially for the second meaning involving imitation.
• Portrayal (noun): A depiction or representation of someone or something in art. This is a broader term that can include "personation."

Synonyms

• Portrayal: The act of representing a character.
• Impersonation: The act of imitating another person.
• Performance: The action of entertaining an audience by acting, singing, etc.
• Impression: An imitation of a person or thing, especially one done to entertain.

Antonyms

• Authenticity: The quality of being genuine or real.
• Sincerity: The quality of being free from pretense or deceit.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To assume a persona: To take on a particular character or role, often different from one's own.
  • For the undercover mission, she had to assume the persona of a wealthy socialite.
• To put on an act: To behave in a way that is not genuine or sincere.
  • His cheerful mood was just a personation; he was actually quite upset.

Noun

1. acting the part of a character on stage; dramatically representing the character by speech and action and gesture
2. imitating the mannerisms of another person