mimeograph
UK[ˈmɪm.i.ə.ɡrɑːf]US[ˈmɪm.i.ə.ɡræf]
n
a machine that makes copies of a document by forcing ink through a stencil onto paper.
n
a copy of a document made by this process.
Morpheme Breakdown
mimeo
graph
mimeo
copy
graph
write/record
Etymology
the word 'mimeograph' is a modern compound formed from greek roots to describe a specific duplicating technology. the first element, 'mimeo-', derives from the greek verb mimeisthai ('to imitate, mimic'), capturing the core function of creating imitative copies. the second element, '-graph', originates from graphos ('writing, drawing, recording'), a common suffix for instruments that write or record. thus, the term literally means 'an instrument that writes imitations' or 'a copy-writer,' a fitting description for a device that mechanically reproduces written documents. it was coined in the late 19th century as a trademark, which later became a generic term for this once-ubiquitous office machine.
Analysis
Structure: mimeo (copy) + graph (write/record)
mimeo (from greek mimeisthai, meaning 'to imitate'); graph (from greek graphos, meaning 'writing' or 'that which writes').
Examples
before photocopiers were common, school newsletters were often produced using a mimeograph.
the distinct smell of the fresh mimeograph copies is a vivid memory for many who attended mid-20th-century schools.
she carefully typed the stencil that would be used on the mimeograph to print the flyers.