anthropomorphized
|an-thro-po-mor-phized|
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/ænˌθrəpəˈmɔrfaɪz/
🇬🇧
/ænˌθrəpəˈmɔː(r)faɪz/
(anthropomorphize)
attribute human traits
Etymology
'anthropomorphize' originates from modern English, formed from the Greek elements 'anthrōpos' meaning 'human' and 'morphē' meaning 'form', plus the verb-forming suffix '-ize'.
'anthropomorphize' derives from Greek 'anthrōpomorphos' (ἀνθρωπομορφος) meaning 'in the human form' and was adapted into Late Latin/Neo-Latin compounds before entering English as a verb form in the 18th–19th centuries.
Initially it referred to 'giving a human form' or 'depicting in human shape'; over time it broadened to mean 'attributing human characteristics, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities', which is its common modern sense.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'anthropomorphize' (to attribute human qualities or behaviors to non-human entities).
The author anthropomorphized the river, describing it as if it felt anger and sorrow.
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Adjective 1
having been given human characteristics or behaviors; described or portrayed as if human.
The anthropomorphized robot in the film made audiences empathize with its choices.
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Last updated: 2025/08/26 09:20