prosopopeia etymology

Etymology:

  • From Latin prosopōpœia, from Greek prosopōpoíēsis ("personification")
  • prósōpon ("face, mask, person") + poieō ("make")

Meaning:

  • A figure of speech in which a non-human entity (e.g., an object, animal, or abstract concept) is given human qualities or attributes.

Origin:

  • The term was first used in rhetoric by Aristotle in his Poetics.
  • Aristotle defined prosopopeia as a type of metaphor in which "the speaker makes a being or a thing speak which has no power of speech."
  • The concept of prosopopeia has been used in literature, drama, and art for centuries to create vivid and compelling depictions.

Examples:

  • "The wind whisperings in the trees" (giving the wind human qualities)
  • "The sun smiled down upon the Earth" (personifying the sun)
  • "Justice is blind" (attributing human characteristics to an abstract concept)

prosopopeia relate terms

  • poet

    Etymology The word poet originates from the Ancient Greek word ποιητής poiēt

  • scoff

    Etymology Old French escoufler Late Latin exsufflare to blow out breathe upon Lat

  • laureate

    Etymology Derived from the Latin word laureatus meaning crowned with laurel Laur

  • prosopagnosia

    Etymology From Ancient Greek πρόσωπον prósōpon face ἀγνωσία a

  • prosopopeia

    Etymology From Latin prosopōpœia from Greek prosopōpoíēsis personification pr

  • agnostic

    Etymology From Ancient Greek ἀ a without γνῶσις gnōsis knowledge

  • machine

    Etymology of Machine The word machine originates from the Greek term mekhane which

  • performance

    Etymology From Medieval Latin performantia from Latin perfōrmāre meaning to perform

  • bachelor

    Etymology The word bachelor comes from the Old French word bacheler which in turn c

  • refugee

    Etymology of Refugee The word refugee originates from the French word réfugié m

  • regeneration

    Etymology From Latin regenerare to be born again from re again generare to

  • crib

    Etymology The word crib comes from the Middle English cribbe which in turn comes fr

  • amen

    Etymology Amen originated from the Hebrew word ʾāmēn אָמֵן which is a transl

  • Muse

    Etymology of Muse The word muse is derived from the Ancient Greek word μούσα

  • court

    Etymology The word court originates from the Old French word cort which in turn deri