prosopopoeia

or pro·so·po·pe·ia

[ proh-soh-puh-pee-uh ]

noun

, Rhetoric.

1. personification, as of inanimate things.
2. a figure of speech in which an imaginary, absent, or deceased person is represented as speaking or acting.

prosopopoeia

/ ˌprɒsəpəˈpiːə /

noun

1. rhetoric another word for personification
2. a figure of speech that represents an imaginary, absent, or dead person speaking or acting

Derived Forms

• ˌprosopoˈpoeial, adjective

Other Words From

• pro·sopo·poeial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosopopoeia¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin prosōpopoeia, from Greek prosōpopoiía “personification,” equivalent to prósōpo(n) “face, person ” + poi(eîn) “to make” + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosopopoeia¹

C16: via Latin from Greek prosōpopoiia dramatization, from prosōpon face + poiein to make

Related Words

• apotheosis
• archetype
• avatar
• epitome
• exemplar
• expression
• personification
• realization
• symbol