appersonation

[a-pur-suh-ney-shuh n, uh-pur-]

noun Psychiatry.

the unconscious assumption of the personality characteristics of another, usually well known, person.

Also ap·per·son·i·fi·ca·tion

[ap-er-son-uh-fi-key-shuh n] /ˌæp ərˌsɒn ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən/.

Origin of appersonation

1930–35; ap-¹ + personation, modeled on German Appersonierung

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018