Ape

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /eɪp/

Definitions

1. A tailless primate, often resembling humans, that is known for its ability to mimic gestures or expressions of others
2. A member of the group of primates characterized by their lack of tails and ability to emulate actions or traits of people
3. A primate species distinguished by the absence of a tail and similarities to humans in appearance ; to copy or mimic someone’s actions, speech, or mannerisms, often in a mocking or humorous way

Etymology: Old English had "apa," and its relatives are found across the Germanic languages: Dutch "aap," German "Affe," and Swedish "apa." Because these forms share a root, the word is ancient within Germanic. Linguists have long assumed it was borrowed even earlier from an unidentified non-Indo-European language spoken where monkeys are native, probably in Africa or Asia, though that source has never been pinned down. One more speculative idea connects the word to Proto-Celtic "abū," meaning "river." If that link holds, the earliest sense may have been a "water sprite" rather than an animal. This is uncertain, and the evidence for it is thin. The verb sense, to copy or imitate, is a later extension of the animal's reputation for mimicry.

Synonyms: simian, monkey, primate, gorilla, chimpanzee

Antonyms: human