personify

To personify is to give human characteristics to something, or to represent in human or physical form.

(verb)

When you say "the sky was crying," this is an example of a time when you personify the sky.
When a corporation stands for all that is greedy and wrong with the business world, this is an example of when the corporation personifies greed and evil.

See personify in Webster's New World College Dictionary

to think or speak of (a thing) as having life or personality; represent as a person: to personify a ship by referring to it as “she”
to symbolize (an abstract idea) by a human figure, as in art
to be a symbol or perfect example of (some quality, thing, or idea); typify; embody

Origin: Fr personifier: see person & -fy

Related Forms:

See personify in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb per·son·i·fied, per·son·i·fy·ing, per·son·i·fies

To think of or represent (an inanimate object or abstraction) as having personality or the qualities, thoughts, or movements of a living being: “To make history or psychology alive I personify it” (Anaïs Nin).
To represent (an object or abstraction) by a human figure.
To represent (an abstract quality or idea): This character personifies evil.
To be the embodiment or perfect example of: “Stalin now personified bolshevism in the eyes of the world” (A.J.P. Taylor).

Origin:

Origin: French personnifier

Origin: , from personne, person

Origin: , from Old French persone; see person

Related Forms: