personification

• Substantif désignant le fait de représenter une idée ou une qualité abstraite sous les traits d'une personne, ou d'attribuer des caractéristiques humaines à des concepts ou objets inanimés, notamment en littérature.

A noun referring to the representation of an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature, or the act of attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas.

1. Embodiment of a qualityB2formal

   A person who is a perfect example of a particular quality or characteristic.

   Incarnation d'une qualité

   • She is the personification of grace and elegance.
   • He is the very personification of kindness.
   • The old man was the personification of wisdom.

   Synonymesembodimentepitomeessenceexemplarincarnationmanifestationmodelquintessencerepresentationsymbol

2. Rhetorical figureB2formalart

   A figure of speech in which an abstract idea or inanimate object is given human qualities or is represented as a person.

   Personnification (figure de style)

   • In the poem, 'Death' is a personification of a cold, silent figure.
   • The writer uses personification to make the wind seem angry.
   • Personification is common in fables, where animals talk and act like humans.

   Synonymesembodimenthumanizationprosopopoeia

3. Act of representing as a personC1formalart

   The act of representing an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature.

   Personnification

   • The personification of justice as a blindfolded woman is a classic symbol.
   • The artist's work focuses on the personification of nature.
   • The personification of time as an old man with a scythe is a common cultural image.

   Synonymesanthropomorphismembodimenthumanizationincarnationprosopopoeia