Word of the Day: ANTHROPOMORPHIZE

Or why your car doesn't really hate you

anthropomorphize (verb) - attribute human characteristics or behavior to anything that is not human, such as animals, objects, or natural phenomena [an-thruh-puh-mawr-fahyz]

BREAKDOWN: ANTHROP- (human) + MORPH- (shape) + -IZE (to make) 

• anthropomorphism is the attribution of human feelings to non-human beings, objects, or natural phenomena

• anthropomorphic means attributing human characteristics to something non-human; having the form of a man

• anthropomorphous means having human form or appearance

See also: philanthropist

“There's a point where you have to leave the dough alone. It's silly to anthropomorphize bread, but I love the fact that it needs to sit quietly, to retreat from touch and noise and drama, in order to evolve. I have to admit, I often feel that way myself.” —Jodi Picoult