personate
1[ pur-suh-neyt ]
/ ˈpɜr səˌneɪt /
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verb (used with object), per·son·at·ed, per·son·at·ing.
to act or portray (a character in a play, a part, etc.).
to assume the character or appearance of; pass oneself off as, especially with fraudulent intent; impersonate.
to represent in terms of personal properties or characteristics; personify.
verb (used without object), per·son·at·ed, per·son·at·ing.
to act or play a part.
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Origin of personate
1First recorded in 1590–1600; verb use of Latin persōnātus “wearing a mask, masked”; see origin at person
OTHER WORDS FROM personate
per·son·a·tion [pur-suh-ney-shuhn], /ˌpɜr səˈneɪ ʃən/, nounper·son·a·tive, adjectiveper·son·a·tor, nounOther definitions for personate (2 of 2)
personate2
[ pur-suh-nit, -neyt ]
/ ˈpɜr sə nɪt, -ˌneɪt /
adjective
Botany.
- (of a bilabiate corolla) masklike.
- having the lower lip pushed upward so as to close the gap between the lips, as in the snapdragon.
Zoology.
- having a masked or disguised form, as the larvae of certain insects.
- having masklike markings.
Origin of personate
2OTHER WORDS FROM personate
per·son·ate·ly, adverbDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use personate in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for personate (1 of 2)
personate1
/ (ˈpɜːsəˌneɪt) /
verb (tr)
to act the part of (a character in a play); portray
a less common word for personify
criminal law to assume the identity of (another person) with intent to deceive
Derived forms of personate
personation, nounpersonative, adjectivepersonator, nounBritish Dictionary definitions for personate (2 of 2)
personate2
/ (ˈpɜːsənɪt, -ˌneɪt) /
adjective
(of the corollas of certain flowers) having two lips in the form of a face
Word Origin for personate
C18: from New Latin persōnātus masked, from Latin persōna; see person
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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