embody
v.to be a perfect example of an idea or a quality. When you embody something, people can see that idea clearly in your actions or appearance.
v.to represent or express an abstract quality, idea, or feeling in a tangible or visible form. Often used to describe how a person or object serves as the quintessential example of a concept.
“She seems to embody the spirit of kindness in everything she does.”
“The new museum building aims to embody the city's history while looking toward a modern future.”
“The protagonist is designed to embody the existential anxieties of the post-war era, serving as a vessel for the author's critiques of modern industrial society.”
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically an abstract noun like 'spirit', 'ideal', or 'essence'. 'essence'.
“A former air freshener salesman with a degree in business psychology, he embodies a charm and wit that his party colleagues have often lacked.”
“The performances embody a looseness that defines Fortner’s work: always moving forward and upward, never hemmed in.”
From Latin em- + body.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.