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

Example Sentences

Over its many seasons of courtship Harrison has come to be the prosopopoeia of all the nation's unease over changing demographics.

From Salon

Where others would say “I don’t want to talk in my husband’s place”, she said something I’ve never heard anyone else say: “I don’t like prosopopoeia.”

From The Guardian

The want of scenery is sometimes supplied by a very unclassical figure, which, just the reverse of the prosopopoeia or personification of grammarians, considers persons to represent things.

From Project Gutenberg

Phædrus evidently confounds them with tales; and Gay, both with tales and allegorical prosopopoeias.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet in nearly every literature death has been personified, while no kindred prosopopoeia of life is anywhere to be found.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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