mimer

Forms

mimer^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French mime + -er.^[2][1][3] The noun mime, recorded from 1520, is from Latin mimus (“low actor, farce”), which comes from Ancient Greek μῖμος (mîmos, “mime, actor, imitator”).^[4][1][5] Rey finds no Indo-European connection for the Greek noun.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date it to 1838.^[3][6] The TLFi's first record is the 1842 supplement to the Académie's dictionary (dated 1840), which defines it as “to represent by gestures” and says it is used almost only of deaf-mutes and of actors in pantomime.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It was formed when wordless drama was coming back into favour, at the time when mime had become a term of the modern theatre for an actor who performs without words (1834).^[4] In 1857, in Baudelaire, it took the sense “to imitate someone, to mimic his ways”.^[7] Littré still called it a neologism.^[8]

Timeline

• 1834 – Mime names an actor who performs without words.^[4]
• 1838 – First record of mimer.^[3][6]
• 1840 – The Académie's supplement defines it.^[2][7]
• 1857 – Baudelaire uses it for “to mimic”.^[7]
• 1873 – Littré calls it a neologism.^[8]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive) To express or reproduce an attitude, a feeling or an action by gestures and facial expressions, without speech: Il mima la surprise.^[6][2][1]
2. (theatre) To perform a role or a scene in mime.^[2][8]
3. (transitive) To mimic someone, often mockingly.^[6][7][1]

Related words

• mimétisme
• mimique
• mime
• pantomime

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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
3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
6. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette