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Today it means

simulate

to imitate the appearance of

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Where does the word "simulate" come from? It comes from Latin simulare, and was adopted directly into English (1620s).

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Where does the word "simulate" come from? It comes from Latin simulare, and was adopted directly into English (1620s).

Simulate’s story begins in Latin: simulare meant “to imitate.” From 'similis', like. It reached English by 1620s as simulate. Computer 'simulations' date from the 1940s. Today, simulate means to imitate the appearance of.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient simulare "to imitate", from 'similis', like.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1620s simulate "to pretend", computer 'simulations' date from the 1940s.

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