personate

¹

[ pur-suh-neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, per·son·at·ed, per·son·at·ing.

1. to act or portray (a character in a play, a part, etc.).
2. to assume the character or appearance of; pass oneself off as, especially with fraudulent intent; impersonate.
3. to represent in terms of personal properties or characteristics; personify.

verb (used without object)

, per·son·at·ed, per·son·at·ing.

1. to act or play a part.

personate

²

[ pur-suh-nit, -neyt ]

adjective

1. Botany.
   1. (of a bilabiate corolla) masklike.
   2. having the lower lip pushed upward so as to close the gap between the lips, as in the snapdragon.
2. Zoology.
   1. having a masked or disguised form, as the larvae of certain insects.
   2. having masklike markings.

personate

¹

/ ˈpɜːsənɪt; -ˌneɪt /

adjective

1. (of the corollas of certain flowers) having two lips in the form of a face

personate

²

/ ˈpɜːsəˌneɪt /

verb

1. to act the part of (a character in a play); portray
2. a less common word for personify
3. criminal law to assume the identity of (another person) with intent to deceive

Derived Forms

• ˈpersonˌator, noun
• ˌpersonˈation, noun
• ˈpersonative, adjective

Other Words From

• per·son·a·tion [pur-s, uh, -, ney, -sh, uh, n], noun
• per·son·a·tive adjective
• per·son·a·tor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of personate¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; verb use of Latin persōnātus “wearing a mask, masked”; person ( def )

Origin of personate²

First recorded in 1750–60; from New Latin, Latin; persōnātus “masked”; persona, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of personate¹

C18: from New Latin persōnātus masked, from Latin persōna; see person

Example Sentences

The real Garlinghouse reported this to Instagram, which took a look ... and then 72 hours later, informed him that after investigating the company had determined that he was not actually being personated.

From The Verge

The fact is, that although it may seem a contradiction in terms, yet Ma�tre Jerome was never so much in his own character as when he was personating somebody else.

From Project Gutenberg

Corolla personate, with the prominent palate often nearly closing the throat, spurred at base on the lower side.

From Project Gutenberg

Madame de S�vign� only lamented that a little girl personated that great king.

From Project Gutenberg

They were allowed to choose their own diversion, and they fixed that their father and the Grand Duchess should appear as Oberon and Titania, and that every guest should personate some fairy character.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• act like
• ape
• assume
• duplicate
• echo
• emulate
• impersonate
• mimic
• mirror
• mock
• pretend
• replicate
• reproduce
• resemble
• simulate