English
imitation
Imitation comes from Latin imitor ‘imitate’, from Proto-Italic *imā ‘copy’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eym- ‘to imitate’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eym-‘to imitate’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*imā‘copy’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEimitor‘imitate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEimitatio
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400imitacion
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600same form
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500imitacioun
- Englishtodayimitation
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eym-‘to imitate’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*imā‘copy’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEimitor‘imitate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEimitatio
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400imitacion
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600same form
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500imitacioun
- Englishtodayimitation
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eym- ‘to imitate’
imagine, image, imaginary, imagination, emulate, emulation, imago, 8 more
Today it means
noun The act of imitating.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eym- / imitation