imiter

Forms

imiter^[1] Middle French immiter (late 15th century).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin imitor (“to copy, imitate; to resemble; to represent”).^[4][5][6] In Christian Latin, from the 7th century, the verb also meant “to follow an example of virtue, an ideal model”.^[4][5] Its stem, of obscure origin, is also found in imāgō (“image”).^[5][2] Bloch and Wartburg date the French verb to the 14th century; the TLFi and the DHLF give 1493.^[6][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Octovien de Saint-Gelais uses it in 1493 for trying to do as someone does, so as to follow his example.^[4][5]

Semantic evolution

Following someone's example, especially in religion (imiter Jésus), was the first sense.^[5] In 1549 Du Bellay applied it to literature and art, “to take a work as one's model”.^[4][5] From the early 17th century (Cotgrave, 1611) it meant reproducing a person's or an animal's behaviour or voice; from 1663 it also meant counterfeiting goods or handwriting.^[5][3] In 1674 Boileau used it for reproducing the look of reality by the means of art, a use now rather pejorative.^[4][5] In 1690 Furetière records it with a thing as subject, “to produce the same effect as”.^[5][3]

Timeline

• 1493 – Octovien de Saint-Gelais uses it for following someone's example.^[4]
• 1549 – Du Bellay uses it for taking a writer as one's model.^[4]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records it for reproducing someone's behaviour.^[5][3]
• 1674 – Boileau uses it for representing reality in art.^[4]
• 1690 – Furetière records it with a thing as subject.^[3]
• 1789 – It is used for imitating precious stones.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To copy the gestures, voice or manner of someone; to mimic: Il imite très bien la voix de son professeur.^[7][8]
2. To do as someone else does, to follow suit.^[7]
3. To take someone as a model or example.^[7][8]
4. (art) To reproduce the appearance of reality.^[7][4]
5. To counterfeit a product, a signature or handwriting.^[8][5]
6. Of a thing: to look like, to produce the same effect as: Ce tissu imite le cuir.^[3][5]

Related words

• imitation
• imitateur
• image
• Latin imitor

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette