01 n. The act of imitating.
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1.
The act of imitating.“Poesy is an art of imitation, . . . that is to say, a representing, counterfeiting, or figuring forth.” — Sir P. Sidney.
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2.
That which is made or produced as a copy; that which is made to resemble something else, whether for laudable or for fraudulent purposes; likeness; resemblance.“Both these arts are not only true imitations of nature, but of the best nature.” — Dryden.
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3.
One of the principal means of securing unity and consistency in polyphonic composition; the repetition of essentially the same melodic theme, phrase, or motive, on different degrees of pitch, by one or more of the other parts of voises. Cf. Canon.(Mus.) See: Canon
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4.
The act of condition of imitating another species of animal, or a plant, or unanimate object. See Imitate, v. t., 3.(Biol.) See: Imitate