verb (used with object), im·per·son·at·ed, im·per·son·at·ing.
- to assume the character or appearance of; pretend to be: He was arrested for impersonating a police officer.
- to mimic the voice, mannerisms, etc., of (a person) in order to entertain.
- to act or play the part of; personate.
- Archaic. to represent in personal or bodily form; personify; typify.
adjective
- embodied in a person; invested with personality.
verb (tr)
- to pretend to be (another person)
- to imitate the character, mannerisms, etc, of (another person)
- rare to play the part or character of
- an archaic word for personify
1620s, “to invest with a personality,” from assimilated form of Latin in- “into, in” (see in- (2)) + persona “person.” Sense of “to assume the person or character of” is first recorded 1715. Earlier in same sense was personate (1610s). Related: Impersonated; impersonating.