Emulate
/ˈɛm.jə.leɪt/noun
To strive to equal or surpass someone, often by imitation.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *aemulus*, meaning a rival or jealous competitor, so its oldest energy is less “copy me” and more “I want your power.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂ey-
“to set in motion; to go; to strive”
Latin
Latin
aemulus
“rivalrous, envious, emulating”
Late Latin
Latin
aemulāri
“to rival, imitate in rivalry”
Old French
Old French
émuler
“to rival, try to equal”
Late Middle English
English
emulen
“to rival or imitate”
Modern English
English
emulate
“to strive to equal or excel, especially by imitation”