Webster
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Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Imitate

Im′i·tate (·tāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Imitating.] [L. imitatus, p. p. of imitari to imitate; of unknown origin. Cf. Image.] 1. To follow as a pattern, model, or example; to copy or strive to copy, in acts, manners etc.

Despise wealth and imitate a dog. Cowlay.

2. To produce a semblance or likeness of, in form, character, color, qualities, conduct, manners, and the like; to counterfeit; to copy.

A place picked out by choice of best alive The Nature's work by art can imitate. Spenser.

This hand appeared a shining sword to weild, And that sustained an imitated shield. Dryden.

3. (Biol.) To resemble (another species of animal, or a plant, or inanimate object) in form, color, ornamentation, or instinctive habits, so as to derive an advantage thereby; sa, when a harmless snake imitates a venomous one in color and manner, or when an odorless insect imitates, in color, one having secretion offensive to birds.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Noah Porter, editor (Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913). Public domain. Text as transcribed by MICRA, Inc., from Project Gutenberg. Changed for Deep Dive Bible: Greek, which our source spelled in Latin letters, set in Greek letters; entries of one spelling merged into one article; Greek words our source left out (shown as “?”), read from the 1898 printing, from the same plates (the Library of Congress’s copy), where the place could be found with certainty. Of the others, 1,362 (a word or a single letter each) were inferred by AI from the context by the dictionary’s own rules and are marked with a wavy underline (tap or point at one to see the note); the rest, which could not be inferred with confidence, are left as “?”.