Emulatory

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Driven by a desire to match or exceed someone's accomplishments
2. Relating to actions taken to imitate or attain a high standard set by peers
3. Having a strong ambition to equal or outperform someone else ; associated with efforts to replicate or reach a peer's level of excellence

Etymology: "Emulatory" is a plain formation: the verb "emulate" with the suffix "-ory" attached, the same ending found in words like "laudatory" or "predatory." The suffix comes from Latin "-orius," which marked a quality or a connection to an action, so an emulatory attitude is one that is connected to the act of emulating. The verb it rests on, "emulate," came into English from Latin "aemulari," meaning to rival or strive to equal someone, a word closely tied to "aemulus," a rival. Because of that sense of rivalry, the family of words has always carried a competitive edge, which the adjective keeps: it describes a drive to match or surpass another, not simply to admire them.