Anthropomorphisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities or objects; the practice of representing animals or inanimate things with human-like characteristics; describing the act of endowing abstract concepts with human-like qualities for storytelling or artistic purposes
2. The tendency to ascribe human-like features and behaviors to animals, objects, or deities; creating relatable narratives by giving non-human subjects human emotions and actions; the technique employed in literature and art to make the inanimate seem sentient and relatable
3. A literary and artistic device where non-human creatures or objects are depicted as having human characteristics and emotions; the method of improving storytelling by anthropomorphizing animals and objects; illustrating concepts or ideas through relatable human-like portrayals

Etymology: The word "anthropomorphisms" is simply the plural of "anthropomorphism," so the core history belongs to that singular form. It was coined in the mid-1700s from two Ancient Greek elements: "ánthrōpos," meaning "man" or "human," and "morphḗ," meaning "form" or "shape." Put together, the parts literally describe giving something human form. The coinage reflects a classical habit of building new scientific and philosophical vocabulary from Greek roots, even though the Greeks themselves never used this particular compound. The plural simply counts separate instances of the tendency or technique, such as several fables or several deities each given human traits.

Synonyms: personifications, embodiments