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An autonomous person makes their own decisions without being influenced by anyone else; an autonomous country or organization is independent and has the power to govern itself.
Something is concomitant when it happens at the same time as something else and is connected with it in some fashion.
A confluence is a situation where two or more things meet or flow together at a single point or area; a confluence usually refers to two streams joining together.
If a word or behavior connotes something, it suggests an additional idea or emotion that is not part of its original literal meaning.
If someone is eccentric, they behave in a strange and unusual way that is different from most people.
If you emulate someone, you try to behave the same way they do because you admire them a great deal.
A situation or event is a farce if it is very badly organized and consequently unsuccessful—or so silly and ridiculous that you cannot take it seriously.
If you use words in a figurative way, they have an abstract or symbolic meaning beyond their literal interpretation.
When someone gesticulates, they make movements with their hands and arms when talking, usually because they want to emphasize something or are having difficulty in expressing an idea using words alone.
The juxtaposition of two objects is the act of positioning them side by side so that the differences between them are more readily visible.
A person or group is nonpartisan when it does not support the ideas of any particular political party or group.
A parody is a humorous imitation of more serious writing or music.
Plagiarism is the copying of another person’s work, ideas, or words and pretending that you created or thought of them.
A poseur pretends to have a certain quality or social position, usually because they want to influence others in some way.
If you repeat something verbatim, you use the same words that were spoken or written.
Adj.
mimetic
mi-MET-ik
Context
While at the zoo, Herb had no idea that the chimpanzee in the habitat behind him was copying everything he did in a humorous display of mimetic behavior. The kids laughed behind their hands at the mimetic chimp’s exact representation of their father’s way of behaving. Then followed a game of mimetic, copycat jumps and nods between Herb and his mirror-image chimpanzee.
Quiz:Try again!
When is an action mimetic?
When it is done secretly without another’s knowledge.
When it copies the movement or appearance of something else.
Similarly Poetic Jason unsuccessfully tried to write mimetic poetry that was poetic in a similar fashion to Shakespeare's poems--he failed miserably.
Examples
Until the beginning of modernism, the most admired quality in Western art was mimesis—objects in painting and sculpture closely resembling things in real life. William Henry Fox Talbot, who produced the first photographic prints from a negative in 1839, immediately saw the mimetic new medium as an art form.
—
Newsweek
In this new book Mr. Hewlett carries his strangely brilliant art of literary impersonation to the highest point of his achievement. . . . writing in the manner of some master, not merely with mimetic cleverness, but with genuine creative power.
—
The New York Times, from 1907
Mimetic architecture—a structure built in a form that mimics its function—became popular in the United States in the early- to mid-20th century. . . . drivers began to notice hot dog restaurants in the shape of dachshunds, coffee shops styled as giant cups and donut-shaped stores selling . . . well, donuts.
—
CNN
Mimetic desire is more than jealously wanting something because someone else has it. Rather, it's about valuing something _because someone else values it_.
—
Scientific American
Mimetic activity is “like an imitation” of the actions of another.
Word Theater
Mimetic Gorilla Not perfectly mimetic, but close!
The panel shows a small video clip of either the word in actual use or a scene that represents the meaning of a word. This not only breaks up the monotony of studying words but also provides another avenue to strengthen word meaning. Enjoy!
Word Constellation
Click for an interactive map of this word
Related Words
concomitant ·
confluence ·
connote ·
emulate ·
farce ·
figurative ·
gesticulate ·
juxtaposition ·
parody ·
plagiarism ·
poseur ·
verbatim ·
autonomous ·
eccentric ·
nonpartisan ·
Similar sense
Opposite sense
Word Variants
mimesis
n
→
imitation
mime
v
→
imitate
The section lists important variants and alternate definitions of the headword. Knowing variants will often help you both remember and understand the word. Not all variants are listed - only the ones we think that are important for you to know.
