Definition of the word embody

The word "embody" has a rich history dating back to the 14th century. It comes from the Old French "embodie," which means "to put a soul into a body or to animate." This Old French term was derived from the Latin "embodie," which is a combination of "in" (meaning "in" or "into") and "bodire" (meaning "to put one's body"). In the earliest sense, "embody" meant to give a physical form or body to something abstract or intangible, such as a spirit or a thought. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the idea of a person or an entity representing or illustrating an idea, concept, or principle. Today, "embody" is used in a variety of contexts, including philosophy, literature, and everyday language, to describe the act of personifying or incarnating an idea or concept.