personification
UK[pəˌsɒnɪfɪˈkeɪʃn]US[pərˌsɑːnɪfɪˈkeɪʃn]
n
The act of representing an object, quality, or idea as a person in art or literature.
n
A person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or idea.
Morpheme Breakdown
person
ific
ation
person
ific
ation
Etymology
The word 'personification' is built upon the Latin root 'persona', which originally referred to a theatrical mask worn by an actor, later extending to mean a character or an individual. This was combined with the Latin suffix '-ficus', derived from 'facere' (to make), to form the concept of 'making into a person'. The final suffix '-ation' solidifies the term as a noun denoting the process or result of this act. Thus, the term's literal journey from 'mask-making' to its modern abstract meaning encapsulates the human tendency to attribute our own form and consciousness to abstract concepts or inanimate objects, a core device in storytelling and figurative language.
Analysis
Structure: person + ific + ation
- person (Latin 'persona'): A human being, character, or role. In this word, it provides the core meaning of a human or personal character.
- ific (Latin '-ficus', from 'facere'): A suffix meaning 'making' or 'causing to be'.
- ation (Latin '-ationem'): A noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process, or its result.
Examples
The poet's personification of death as a gentle guide is a powerful motif in the elegy.
She is the very personification of grace under pressure.
In the fable, the wind and the sun are given human traits through personification.