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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread mimicry #39217 08/23/2001 7:36 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 427 Spain Marianna addict Marianna addict Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 427 Spain Can anyone tell me what is the pronunciation of "mimicry"? I cannot decide whether it's /mimicrai/, like the verb "cry", or /mimicri/ (nice vowel harmony there). It roughly means imitation, and can be applied in many contexts, from animals that mimicry other animals or things of their environment so as to avoid attack, to people who try to look and behave like others, for whatever reason. Maybe someone has a more accurate definition as well? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: mimicry #39218 08/23/2001 9:36 AM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta Bingley Carpal Tunnel Bingley Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta I would pronounce the final syllable as /kri:/ with the same vowel as the final sound of oddity, similar to the vowel in see but not quite so long. It's a noun from the verb mimic and means copying or imitating, for protective purposes as Marianna says or for humorous effect. Bingley Bingley Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: mimicry #39219 08/23/2001 1:13 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Perhaps may help to remember that the "ry" ending is often used to turn a verb or noun into an abstraction: battery, flattery, etc. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: mimicry #39220 08/23/2001 2:50 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 393 London NicholasW enthusiast NicholasW enthusiast Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 393 London wizardry, devilry, hostelry, heraldry, poetry, infantry, bigotry... I've never heard the re-segmentation mimi-cry but it's an obvious possibility now that you mention it. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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