Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun The attribution of human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects or to nature; for example, angry clouds; a cruel wind.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun An error in
logical argumentation whichconsists in treatinginanimate objects or concepts as if they werehuman beings, for instance having thoughts or feelings.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the fallacy of attributing human feelings to inanimate objects; `the friendly sun' is an example of the pathetic fallacy
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Examples
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baronluke commented on the word pathetic fallacy
Noun. Assigning human characteristics or emotions to inanimate objects or to nature, for example: 'angry clouds', 'a cruel wind' ...
June 16, 2008
bilby commented on the word pathetic fallacy
Wikipedia notes that "The word 'pathetic' in this use is related to empathy (capability of feeling), and is not pejorative.
June 16, 2008
lampbane commented on the word pathetic fallacy
"Many of you feel bad for this lamp."
April 13, 2009