I. ˈkäpē, -pi noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English copie, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin copia imitation, transcript, from Latin, abundance, number, ability, power — more at copious
1. obsolete : plenty , copiousness
2. : an imitation, transcript, or reproduction of an original work (as of a letter, an engraving, a painting, a statue, a piece of furniture, a dress)
3. English law
a. : the transcript of the roll of the manorial court containing the entries made by the steward of the admissions of tenants to land according to custom under the tenure thence called copyhold
b. : a holding or estate by copyhold
4. : one of a series of especially mechanical reproductions of the same original text, engraving, or photograph : an individual example of a series of identical impressions (as of type, a printing plate)
a book printed in 500 copies
a rag-paper copy of a newspaper
a presentation copy
5.
a. archaic : something that is or is to be imitated or transcribed : an example (as of penmanship) : model , pattern
b. : a picture that is to be photographically reproduced
6.
a. : matter to be set up for printing or photoengraving (as a draft of a news story, an author's manuscript, or a picture)
this is dirty copy
b. : something considered printable or newsworthy — used in the singular and without an article
crime makes good copy
c. : the text of an advertisement
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- by copy
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English copien, from Middle French copier, from Medieval Latin copiare, from copia
transitive verb
1. : to make a copy of : write, print, engrave, or paint after an original : duplicate , reproduce , transcribe ; specifically : to duplicate (a document) by pressing in a copying press
2. : to attempt to resemble : follow especially in manners or course of life
when art copies nature
intransitive verb
1. : to make a copy
he copies from Rembrandt
2. : to undergo copying
the document did not copy well
Synonyms:
imitate , mimic , ape , mock , burlesque : copy applies to the making of duplications of originals with resemblances as close as circumstances will permit
you gave natives bits to copy under all possible threats against lapses of accuracy — Mary Austin
later examples of the Greek revival travestied the classic style rather than copied it — American Guide Series: Massachusetts
imitate suggests following a pattern or model in overall qualities or in some specific characteristics, without precluding considerable variations
she slept for hours in the daytime, imitating the cats — Jean Stafford
plaster was originally painted to imitate marble — American Guide Series: Minnesota
their pots seem to imitate leather vessels — V.G.Childe
mimic may suggest a copying either exact in emulation of or fidelity to the original or heightened for making sport of or satirizing
he learned to call wild turkeys with a piece of bone through which he was able to mimic the notes of the bird — Van Wyck Brooks
he attends even to their air, dress, and motions, and imitates them liberally and not servilely; he copies but does not mimic — Earl of Chesterfield
ape likewise may apply to close copying in emulation; often it suggests inept, presumptuous, or servile copying of a better or more worthy original
the pride that apes humility — F.M.Ford
feudal principalities each aping sovereignty — Will Durant
the lower classes aped the rigid decorum of their “betters” with laughable results — Harrison Smith
mock usually applies to imitation or repetition with scornful derisive intent
she contended every point, objected to every request, shirked her work, fought with her sisters, mocked her mother — Margaret Mead
half a dozen jackals went through the compound singing and a hyena stood afar off and mocked them — Rudyard Kipling
burlesque applies to imitation designed to ridicule by grotesque exaggeration
she read these letters aloud, burlesquing them in spite of protests — Katherine Mansfield
most of the local humor is corny, but it's shrewd, earthy, and droll, burlesquing in its extravagance the pompousness of our national self-esteem — Bergen Evans
III. noun
also per copy
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- a copy