mimicry

/ˈmɪm.ɪ.kɹi/

Etymology

From mimic + -ry.

mimicry means An act or ability to simulate or effect the appearance, characteristics, or behavior of someone or something else. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 79 out of 100.

Why this word is great

MIMICRY — [Noun] The art, practice, or biological condition of precisely imitating the form, sound, or behavior of another. From mimic (from Latin mīmicus, from Greek mīmikós, "of or pertaining to a mime or imitation") + the noun-forming suffix -ry, denoting art, practice, or condition. Unlike imitation—a broad, often artless copy—or caricature—a deliberate, satirical exaggeration—mimicry is a pragmatic craft of studied precision. It is the orchid perfectly mirroring a wasp to ensure pollination, the actor capturing the exact cadence of a voice in a darkened room, and the harmless snake adopting the scarlet bands of a venomous cousin. A survival tool that blurs the line between being and seeming, it is the profound and unsettling art of becoming something else to persist as yourself.

noun

An act or ability to simulate or effect the appearance, characteristics, or behavior of someone or something else.“They say that mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery, but I still think I'm being mocked when he acts just like me.”