imitatio

Forms

imitātiō f (genitive imitātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from imitor “to imitate” with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from the Rhetorica ad Herennium, of imitating an example.^[2] Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant imitating an example, as in the Rhetorica ad Herennium, and in Cicero copying, mimicking, and a copy, an imitation.^[2] Döderlein explains that imitārī is merely the effort to make something like another thing, without any moral notion.^[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant example, imitation.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for copying another person, in grammar for the formation of verbs, and for following a moral example.^[7] It survives in Italian imitazione and French imitation, and through Old French it gave English imitation about 1400.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a copy.^[2][4]
• c. 1400 – English imitation is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Imitation of an example.^[2]
2. Copying, mimicking.^[2]
3. A copy, imitation.^[2]

Related words

• imitor
• imāgō
• English imitation

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press