New Words

Anthropomorphism

: an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics

Personification

1 : attribution of personal qualities; especially : representation of a thing or abstraction as a person or by the human form
2 : a divinity or imaginary being representing a thing or abstraction
3 : embodiment, incarnation

I was curious about the difference between the first personification definition and anthropomorphism. My guess is that one would use anthropomorphism when discussing non-human subjects from a scientific point of view; whereas one would use personification when discussing non-human subjects in the context of a literary discussion.

Any ideas?