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assimulo

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word assimulo

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC Plautus More words from the 3rd century BC
Ultimate origin
Latin simulō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin similis
Italian simile
Latin simulō
Latin assimulō
From the same root
Latin cōnsimilis ← similis
Latin dissimilis ← similis
Latin similiter ← similis
Latin similitudo ← similis
Latin vērīsimilis ← similis
Latin dissimulō ← simulō
Latin īnsimulō ← simulō
Latin simulācrum ← simulō
Latin simulātiō ← simulō
Latin simulātor ← simulō

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [asˈsɪ.mʊ.ɫoː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [asˈsiː.mu.lo][1]

Forms

assimulō (present infinitive assimulāre, perfect active assimulāvī, supine assimulātum); first conjugation[1] Also spelled assimilō and adsimulō.[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin ad- + simulō (“to imitate, pretend”).[2] De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of similis (“like”), which goes back to Proto-Italic *semali- (“alike, together”) and Proto-Indo-European *smh₂-el-i-.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus on,[4] meaning to pretend or to make oneself appear something: in the Truculentus someone is asked what it profited them to pretend.[2]

Semantic evolution

In early Latin it is mostly to pretend and to act a part: in Terence a character is told it is his job to stage a sham wedding well.[2] It also meant to take on the likeness of something, to resemble, and to make like or copy, also with intent to deceive, to counterfeit.[2] In the classical period the sense of making one thing like another, or considering it similar, is rare;[3] Lucretius uses it of considering parts similar to whole living beings, and Cicero of comparing the state to a model.[2] Later it was used for gathering together, the sense in which Old French assembler continued it.[5] English took assimilate in the early 15th century from the past participle.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of pretending.[2][4][6]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of acting out a pretence.[2][6]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of considering things similar.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of copying and of comparing.[2][6]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of taking on the likeness of an old woman.[2][6]
  • early 15th century – English borrows assimilate from its past participle.[5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To pretend;[2][3] (reflexive) to make oneself appear, feign.[2][3]
  2. To represent as real what does not exist, to feign; to act (a part).[2]
  3. To take on the likeness of; to resemble.[2]
  4. To make like, cause to resemble;[2] assimulātus, resembling.[2]
  5. To copy, imitate, portray; to counterfeit, forge.[2]
  6. To consider as similar or equal, assimilate.[2][1]
  7. To liken, compare.[2][1]

Word family

  • assimulaticius
  • assimulātiō
  • assimulanter

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Assimulo.” Etymologically, 8 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/assimulo. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·