Etymology
The word "impersonate" traces its origins to the late 14th century. It derives from the Middle French "empersonner," which means "to put on the person of another." The Middle French term, in turn, emerged from the Latin "in" (in, on) and "persona" (person, mask).
Meaning
Impersonate means to assume the character or identity of another person, often with the intent to deceive or mislead. It implies a deliberate act of pretending or acting like someone else. The impersonation can be partial, involving only specific traits or mannerisms, or it can be complete, where the person assumes all aspects of the other's identity.
Origin
The term "impersonate" has its roots in theater and dramatic performances. In the early days of theater, actors often donned masks to represent different characters. These masks were known as "personae," and the act of wearing them was referred to as "impersonating" the character.
Over time, the use of the word "impersonate" expanded beyond theater to include any situation where someone pretended to be someone else. It is now commonly used to describe:
Etymology Latin persona meaning mask or character in a play Meaning An indiv
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