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anthropomorphize

[an-thruh-puh-mawr-fahyz]
verb (used with or without object), an·thro·po·mor·phized, an·thro·po·mor·phiz·ing.
  1. to ascribe human form or attributes to (an animal, plant, material object, etc.).
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Also especially British, an·thro·po·mor·phise.

Origin of anthropomorphize

First recorded in 1835–45; anthropomorph(ic) + -ize
Related formsan·thro·po·mor·phi·za·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for anthropomorphise

Historical Examples

  • We may be inclined to infer that the hero can stand alone, whilst a Totem needs the alliance of a hero to anthropomorphise it.

    The Origin of Man and of his Superstitions

    Carveth Read

  • So we spiritualise the material universe, and afterwards, by an incongruous consistency, anthropomorphise spirit.

  • If man is a microcosm then kosmos is a megalanthrope and that is how we come to anthropomorphise the deity.

British Dictionary definitions for anthropomorphise

anthropomorphize

anthropomorphise

verb
  1. to attribute or ascribe human form or behaviour to (a god, animal, object, etc)
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for anthropomorphise

anthropomorphize

v.

1834; see anthropomorphic + -ize. Related: Anthropomorphized; anthopomorphizing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper