[em.u.late] vt -lat.ed ; -lat.ing [L aemulatus, pp. of aemulari, fr. aemulus rivaling] (1582) 1 a: to strive to equal or excel b: imitate; esp: to imitate by means of an emulator
2: to equal or approach equality with
[2]em.u.late adj (1602) obs: emulous 1b "pricked on by a most ~ pride --Shak."