prosopopeia

pro·so·po·pe·ia also pro·so·po·poe·ia  (pr-sp-p)

n.

1. A figure of speech in which an absent or imaginary person is represented as speaking.

2. See personification.

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[Latin prospopoeia, from Greek prospopoii : prospon, face, mask, dramatic character (pros-, pros- + pon, face from ps, p-, eye; see ok^w- in Indo-European roots) + poiein, to make; see k^wei-² in Indo-European roots.]