Etymology Map
Back to all words

Imitate

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to copy

Where does the word "imitate" come from? It comes from Latin imitari, passing through French before entering English (1530s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
imitari
Latin · ancient
"to copy"
related to 'imago', image
2
Stage 2 of 3
imiter
French · 1500s
"to imitate"
Aristotle's 'mimesis', imitation, was central to Renaissance art theory
3
Stage 3 of 3
imitate
English · 1530s
"to copy"
'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' dates from 1820
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Imitate’s story begins in Latin: imitari meant “to copy.” Related to 'imago', image. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as imiter. Aristotle's 'mimesis', imitation, was central to Renaissance art theory. It reached English by 1530s as imitate. 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' dates from 1820. Today, imitate means to copy.