Anthropomorphise

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To ascribe human attributes or emotions to beings or objects that are not human
2. To imbue non-human entities, such as animals and objects, with human-like traits or behaviors
3. To attribute qualities, emotions, or intentions typical of humans to animals, objects, or concepts that are not human

Etymology: The word is built from three Greek-derived parts. "Anthropos" meant "human being" in ancient Greek, "morphe" meant "form" or "shape", and the English suffix "-ise" (or "-ize") turns a noun into a verb meaning "to make into, or treat as". Put together, to anthropomorphise is literally to give something a human shape or treat it as having human form. The shape of the word matters more than its date. Each element was a working piece of Greek vocabulary long before anyone combined them, and the combination is a modern scholarly construction rather than something ancient writers would have recognised. Its meaning has also widened over time. The original sense is about physical form, but the verb now mostly refers to attributing human minds, feelings or intentions to animals, gods, machines or natural forces, which is a step away from the literal shape.

Synonyms: personify, humanize