imitor Latin · revision 6508

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=derivation|attested=Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *h₂eym-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɪ.mɪ.tɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈiː.mi.tor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''imitor''' (present infinitive imitārī or imitārier, perfect active imitātus sum); first conjugation, deponent^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is doubtful.^(OLD 2012) It is perhaps a frequentative from a stem *im-, as in [[imāgō]] “image”, and [[aemulus]] “rivalling” may be related.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Wiktionary traces it to [[ine-pro|*h₂eym-|t=to imitate]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first citation is Livius Andronicus, who has an active form ''imitō''.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Livius Andronicus 280/260–before 200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to copy the conduct of someone, imitate, as in Plautus, and to follow their actions.^(OLD 2012) It meant to make a copy, reproduce, as Cicero's forging of a signature, to resemble, and to simulate, feign, as in Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Döderlein says ''imitārī'' is just to copy, while [[aemulor]] is to rival in order to equal or surpass.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to imitate, copy, represent.^(Stelten 1995) Spanish ''remedar'' “to mimic” comes from it, and Italian ''imitare'' and French ''imiter'' are borrowings.^(Wiktionary) [[en|imitation]] came about 1400, and [[en|imitate]] in the 1530s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses an active form.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of imitating and feigning.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of forging a signature.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1530s – English ''imitate'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|imitate]], copy the conduct of.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To reproduce, copy; to resemble.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To simulate, feign.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[imitābilis]]

+ * [[imitāmen]]

+ * [[imitāmentum]]

+ * [[imitātiō]]

+ * [[imitātīvus]]

+ * [[imitātor]]

+ * [[imitātōrius]]

+ * [[imitātrīx]]

+ * [[imitātus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[imāgō]]

+ * [[aemulus]]

+ * [[en|imitate]]

+ * [[en|imitation]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}