impersonate en · VERB
Pronunciation
- /ɪmˈpɜːsəneɪt/
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English im- Latin persōna Anglo-Norman persouneder. Middle English persoun English person Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate English impersonate From im- + person + -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Meanings
-
(transitive) To pretend to be (a different person); to assume the identity of, especially when there is an intent to deceive.
The conman managed to impersonate several executives.
Evil can and will always impersonate goodness.
- (transitive) To operate with the permissions of a different user account.
-
(obsolete, transitive) To manifest in corporeal form; to personify.
The shepherds were impersonated, then the Magi, finally Herod himself. In course of time all the elements of a fully developed Nativity play had thus been introduced.
1918, Paul Studer, Le mystère d'Adam, an Anglo-Norman drama of the twelfth century:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| impersonated | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| impersonated | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| impersonating | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| impersonates | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Deriveds
unimpersonated · impersonation · impersonator
Relateds
Synonyms
impersonize · personate · embody
Translations (19)
pt imitar (assume the identity of) · ca encarnar (embody, personify) · zu ukulingisela (assume the identity of) · de sich ausgeben als (assume the identity of) · pt passar-se por (assume the identity of) · bg олицетворявам (assume the identity of) · ru имперсонировать (assume the identity of) · pt passar por (assume the identity of) · eo imiti (assume the identity of) · fi esiintyä (assume the identity of) · ru выдавать себя за (assume the identity of) · fi esittää (assume the identity of) · de nachahmen (assume the identity of) · de verkörpern (assume the identity of) · fr imiter (assume the identity of) · ca imitar (assume the identity of) · ca fer-se passar per (assume the identity of) · ca suplantar (assume the identity of) · cmn 假冒 (assume the identity of)