WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ape
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [AS. apa; akin to D. aap, OHG. affo, G. affe, Icel. api, Sw. apa, Dan. abe, W. epa.]
Definition : 1. (Zo?l.)

Defn: A quadrumanous mammal, esp. of the family Simiad?, having teeth of the same number and form as in man, having teeth of the same number and form as in man, and possessing neither a tail nor cheek pouches. The name is applied esp. to species of the genus Hylobates, and is sometimes used as a general term for all Quadrumana. The higher forms, the gorilla, chimpanzee, and ourang, are often called anthropoid apes or man apes.

Note: The ape of the Old Testament was prqobably the rhesus monkey of India, and allied forms.

2. One who imitates servilely (in allusion to the manners of the ape); a mimic. Byron.

3. A dupe. [Obs.] Chaucer.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Ape
Part of Speech : v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aped; p. pr. & vb. n. Aping.]
Definition : Defn: To mimic, as an ape imitates human actions; to imitate or follow servilely or irrationally. "How he apes his sire." Addison. The people of England will not ape the fashions they have never tried. Burke.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913