Personifying: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ‘ค
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personifying

 

[ pษ™rหˆsษ’nษชfaษชษชล‹ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

in literature

Personifying is the act of giving human characteristics to something that is not human, such as an animal, object, or abstract concept. It is a popular literary device used to make the writing more engaging and relatable.

Synonyms

anthropomorphize, embodiment, humanize

Examples of usage

  • By personifying the wind as a mischievous child, the author created a sense of playfulness in the story.
  • The poet used personifying language to describe the sun as a nurturing mother, providing warmth and light to the earth.
Context #2 | Noun

psychology

Personifying is a defense mechanism in psychology where a person attributes human characteristics to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. It can help individuals cope with difficult emotions or situations by externalizing them onto something else.

Synonyms

attribution, externalization, projection

Examples of usage

  • The patient's tendency to personify their anxiety as a dark shadow helped them separate from the overwhelming emotions.
  • Through personifying her fears as a monster under the bed, the child felt more in control of her anxiety.

Translations

Translations of the word "personifying" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น personificando

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคตเฅเคฏเค•เฅเคคเคฟเคคเฅเคต เคฆเฅ‡เคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช personifizieren

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ memersonifikasikan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะตั€ัะพะฝั–ั„ั–ะบะฐั†ั–ั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ personifikacja

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆ“ฌไบบๅŒ–ใ™ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท personnifier

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ personificar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท kiลŸileลŸtirme

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์˜์ธํ™”ํ•˜๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชุฌุณูŠุฏ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ personifikace

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ personifikรกcia

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ‹ŸไบบๅŒ–

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ osebnostiti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ persรณnugera

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฟะตั€ัะพะฝะฐะปะธะทะฐั†ะธั

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒžแƒ”แƒ แƒกแƒแƒœแƒ˜แƒคแƒ˜แƒชแƒ˜แƒ แƒ”แƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ลŸษ™xsilษ™ลŸdirmษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ personificar

Etymology

The term 'personifying' originates from the combination of 'person' and 'fying', where 'person' refers to an individual with human qualities and 'fying' indicates the action of making something possess those qualities. The concept of personification has been used in literature and psychology for centuries, dating back to ancient times when gods and natural elements were often personified in myths and stories.

See also: depersonalization, depersonalize, depersonalizing, impersonate, impersonation, impersonator, nonperson, people, personable, personage, personages, personal, personalities, personality, personalizer, personally, personification, personified, personify, personnel, persons.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,687 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.