ape

Word Origin & History

Old English apa "ape, monkey," from Proto-Germanic *apan (cf. Old Saxon apo, Old Norse api, Dutch aap, German affe), perhaps borrowed in Proto-Germanic from Celtic (cf. Old Irish apa) or Slavic (cf. Old Bohemian op, Slovak opitza), perhaps ultimately from a non-Indo-European language.

Apes were noted in medieval times for mimicry of human action, hence, perhaps, the other figurative use of the word, to mean "a fool." To go ape (in emphatic form, go apeshit) "go crazy" is 1955, U.S. slang. To lead apes in hell (1570s) was the fancied fate of one who died an old maid.

Example Sentences forape

Why, what makes you stand twisting there like an eel or an ape, child?

It is our duty to resemble him as much as we can; that is to say, as much as an ape can resemble a man.

Charley confided to me afterwards that he did not take to him—he was too like an ape, he said.

At its foot the ape turned himself into the chapel of a field-god.

Then the ape said: “I will not leave until you have obtained one for me.”

Ah,” said the ape, “is it so high that it outranks all other dignities?

The ape was pleased with this speech and said: “Good, good!”

The ape leaped into the air to a distance of five or six feet from the ground.

The Ape King smoothed his clothes, put his hat on straight, and stepped in.

This ape has eaten the peaches, has drunk the nectar and also swallowed the pills of life.

ape

imitates

imitator

impersonate

loony

masculine

mime

mimic

mimicked

ape

More words related to ape