replica
UK[ˈrɛplɪkə]US[ˈrɛplɪkə]
n
An exact copy or model of something, especially one on a smaller scale than the original.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
plica
re
again
plica
fold
Etymology
The word "replica" entered English in the early 19th century from Italian, where it denoted a work of art intended to repeat an original. Its ultimate source is the Latin verb replicare, meaning "to fold back, repeat, reply", which is itself a compound of the prefix re- ("again, back") and the verb plicare ("to fold"). The conceptual link from the literal action of "folding back" to the modern meaning of "a copy" lies in the idea of a repeated or duplicated action, creating a second iteration. Thus, the ancient logic of creating a duplicate by a metaphorical "folding again" evolved into our contemporary understanding of a precise reproduction.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + plica (fold)
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again, back".
- plica: From Latin plicare, meaning "to fold".
Examples
The museum shop sells miniature replicas of famous sculptures.
He built a detailed replica of the historic ship.
The weapon used in the film was a harmless plastic replica.