personify

Thân thiện

The poet uses metaphor to personify the wind as a playful dancer.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To attribute human qualities or characteristics to something non-human: To represent an abstract idea, object, or animal as having a human form or personality.
   • To be a perfect example or embodiment of a particular quality or idea: To represent a thing or abstraction as a person.
   • To represent or symbolize (a quality or concept) by a figure in human form: To embody in a concrete form.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • Many fables personify animals, giving them the ability to speak and reason.
  • The poet chose to personify death as a silent, hooded figure.
  • She seems to personify kindness and generosity in everything she does.

Advanced Usage

• "to be personified as": to be represented or symbolized in human form.
  • In the story, greed is personified as a king who is never satisfied.
• "to personify something in someone": to see someone as the perfect example of a quality.
  • For his students, he personified dedication to the subject.

Variants and Related Words

• Personification (n): The act of personifying; the representation of a thing or abstraction as a person.
  • The use of "Father Time" is a classic example of personification.
• Personifier (n): One who personifies (less common).

Synonyms

• Embody: To give a concrete form to; represent.
• Incarnate: To embody in flesh; give human form to.
• Exemplify: To serve as a typical example of.

Related Phrases

• To be the personification of: To be the perfect example of a particular quality, often used as a stronger form of "personify."
  • His mother was the very personification of patience.

Học thuật

Verb

1. attribute human qualities to something
   • The Greeks personated their gods ridiculous
2. represent, as of a character on stage
   • Derek Jacobi was Hamlet
3. invest with or as with a body; give body to

Từ đồng nghĩa

• personate
• embody
• be
• body