mime
UK[maɪm]US[maɪm]
n
The theatrical technique of suggesting action, character, or emotion without words, using only gesture, expression, and movement.
n
A performer specializing in this art.
v
To use gesture and movement without words to convey a story or idea.
v
To imitate someone's movements or actions, often in a comical way.
Etymology
The word 'mime' entered English in the early 17th century from Latin mimus, denoting a simple farcical drama or an actor in such a play. The Latin term was a direct borrowing from the Greek mimos, meaning 'imitator' or 'actor,' reflecting the art's ancient Mediterranean roots in imitation and performance. This Greek word is thought to be of non-Indo-European, possibly Pre-Greek origin, suggesting the concept was deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of the ancient Aegean world. Over time, the term narrowed in English to specifically describe the wordless, gestural performance art we recognize today, retaining the core idea of imitation but stripping away the verbal and narrative complexity of its classical predecessors.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. It is borrowed from Latin mimus, which itself came from Greek mimos (imitator, actor). The Greek term is likely of Pre-Greek origin, indicating it was a cultural loan into the Greek language.
Examples
The street performer captivated the crowd with a brilliant mime of being trapped in an invisible box.
Marcel Marceau is perhaps the most famous mime in history.
The children loved to mime the actions of their favorite superheroes.