prosopography

noun

pros·​o·​pog·​ra·​phy ˌprä-sə-ˈpä-grə-fē How to pronounce prosopography (audio)
: a study that identifies and relates a group of persons or characters within a particular historical or literary context
prosopographical
ˌprä-sə-pə-ˈgra-fi-kəl How to pronounce prosopography (audio)
adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Prosopographie, borrowed from New Latin prosopographia "description of an individual's personal appearance," from Greek prósōpon "face, mask, role, person" + New Latin -graphia -graphy — more at prosopopoeia

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prosopography was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near prosopography

Prosopium

prosopography

prosopolepsy

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Prosopography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prosopography. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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