What is the difference between "personate" and "impersonate"?

Personate p?r?s? n?t?; for adj., -nit, -n?t?]

transitive verb
personated, personating

1. to act or play the part of, as in a drama or masquerade; portray

2. to personify

3. Law: to assume the character or identity of with intent to defraud; impersonate


Impersonate im p?r?s? n?t?]

transitive verb
impersonated, impersonating

1. Now Rare to represent in the form of a person; personify; embody

2. to act the part of;

A. specif., to mimic the appearance, manner, etc. of (a person) for purposes of entertainment

B. to pretend to be for purposes of fraud: to impersonate an officer