imitate
UK[ˈɪmɪteɪt]US[ˈɪmɪteɪt]
v
To copy the way someone or something looks, sounds, or behaves.
v
To produce a copy of something; to be like something else.
Morpheme Breakdown
imit
ate
imit
copy
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
The word "imitate" entered English in the 16th century, directly from the Latin past participle imitatus, of the verb imitari, meaning "to copy, portray, or emulate." The Latin root imit- is thought to be related to the concept of image and likeness, possibly deriving from the Proto-Indo-European root aim-, meaning "copy." The logic of the word is beautifully straightforward: the core morpheme "imit" carries the ancient sense of creating a likeness, while the suffix "-ate" transforms it into the action of doing so. Thus, the modern abstract meaning of copying behavior, appearance, or style evolved directly from this literal foundation of producing an image or similitude.
Analysis
Structure: imit (copy) + ate (verb suffix)
- imit: From Latin imitari (to copy, imitate). This is the core root carrying the meaning of likeness or copy.
- ate: A verb-forming suffix of Latin origin, used to form verbs meaning "to act in a specified manner".
Examples
He can imitate his teacher's voice perfectly.
Some birds imitate the calls of other species.
The software was designed to imitate human thought processes.