apen.
/eɪp/, U.S. /eɪp/ 1. An animal of the monkey tribe (Simiadæ); before the introduction of ‘monkey’ (16th cent.), the generic name, and still (since 1700) sometimes so used poetically or rhetorically, or when their uncouth resemblance to men and mimicry of human action is the main idea (due to reaction of the verb ape upon the noun whence it was formed).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > order Primates > suborder Anthropoidea (higher primates) > [noun] > monkey
apea700
mercat1481
jackanapesa1529
monkey1530
pug1598
puggy1662
meerkat1801
monkey-man1819
monk1841
simian1861
Moloch1929
a700 Epinal Gloss. 827 in H. Sweet Oldest Eng. Texts Phitecus, apa.
c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 366 Wið apan bite oððe mannes, smyre mid fearres geallan.
c1300 K. Alis. 6464 Visage after martyn apen: Folke heo buth, ful eovel y-schapen!
1366 Mandeville's Trav. xxii. 239 Babewynes, apes, marmesettes, and othere dyverse bestes.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2299 Wilde beris & apes.
c1400 Rom. Rose 6839 Make I not wel tumble myn apes?
?a1500 Nominale (Yale Beinecke 594) in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 759/24 Hec simia, a hape.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. xiii. D Estriches shal dwell there, & Apes [1611 Satyres] shal daunse there.
1539 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Prouerbes sig. E.viiv The fayreste of Apes is fowle.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xix. 168 Prouerbe. An ape wilbe an ape, by kinde as they say, Though that ye clad him all in purple array.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Femme Euerie Ape thinkes her puppie the fairest.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 247 Apes With foreheads villanous low. View more context for this quotation
1650 N. Ward Discolliminium 5 The Proverb, A guilty conscience is as afraid of a feather, as an Apes tayl of a whip.
1728 A. Pope Dunciad i. 226 Less human genius than God gives an ape.
1857 H. G. Bohn Handbk. Prov. 310 An Ape's an ape; a varlet's a varlet; Though they be clad in silk or scarlet.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise I. 377 Quick-chattering apes, that yet in mockery Of anxious men wrinkle their ugly brows.
2.
a. spec. A member of the Simiadæ, having no tail nor cheek-pouches; including the gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan, and gibbons.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > order Primates > suborder Anthropoidea (higher primates) > [noun] > group Catarrhinae (Old World monkey) > member of superfamily Hominoidea (apes and humans) > family Pongidae (ape)
babiona1529
jackanapes1528
Johnanapes1633
man-monkey1651
ape1699
pygmy1699
Simia1719
great ape1771
anthropoid1861
pithecoid1874
man-ape1878
pongid1949
pithecine1962
1699 E. Tyson (title) Orang-outang sive Homo Sylvestris. Or, The anatomy of a pygmie compared with that of a monkey, an ape, and a man.
1764 T. Williams in Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. (at cited word) The ape, properly so called, is without a tail.
1834 Penny Cycl. II. 144 We say that an ape is a monkey without a tail, and a baboon a monkey with a short tail, reserving the term monkey more particularly for those species which have very long tails; and though our early writers use these three words indiscriminately..yet the significations here given have generally prevailed since the time of Ray, and are now exclusively adopted.
1859 C. Darwin Origin of Species vii. 181 Why have not apes acquired the intellectual powers of man?
b. to play the ape (referring to the way in which these animals mimic human form and gestures): to imitate, esp. in an inferior or spurious manner, to counterfeit, mimic the reality.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > imitate [verb (intransitive)] > apishly
to play the ape1579
to ape ita1658
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 343/1 He playeth the Ape, and counterfeteth what God hath ordeined for our saluation.
1648 N. Ward To Parl. at Westm. 23 Themselves may..play the Apes in Pulpits.
c. Used quasi-adverbially in to go ape (slang, originally U.S.), to go ‘crazy’; to become excited, violent, sexually aggressive, etc.; to display strong enthusiasm or appreciation; also, to malfunction. See American Speech (1961) XXXVI. 150 for an account of the phrase's development.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > riotous excitement > behave with riotous excitement [verb (intransitive)]
rehayte1526
tear1602
to play up1849
to whoop things up1873
to raise sand1892
to raise (also kick up, play, etc.) merry hell1931
to go ape1955
to go (also drive) bananas1957
the world > action or operation > manner of action > [verb (intransitive)] > operate in a faulty manner
misperform1656
misbehave1851
to act up1887
malfunction1941
to go ape1985
1955 Amer. Speech 30 117 [Air Force slang] Go ape; go ape shit, v. phr., react in an irrational manner; go into a frenzy.
1962 Datamation Feb. 31/1 Here is a great chance to go ape, for if the formats of cards are manifold, those of paper tape are megafold.
1963 D. B. Hughes Expendable Man i. 23 I go ape over Johnny Mathis.
1966 ‘T. Wells’ Matter of Love & Death vi. 63 I'm just keeping busy. I've been going ape with nothing to do.
1974 Sunday Sun (Brisbane) 4 Aug. 28/5 The local Shire Council has gone ape over the song, Laidley Where The Green Grass Grows, and they're launching it at a gala licensed cabaret in the Shire Hall on August 23.
1985 Sunday Times 10 Mar. 56/6 Brian Phelan's play..is about..a secret government computer centre that's gone ape... Its minders appear to have launched into freelance crime.
3. Hence figurative. One who ‘plays the ape’; an imitator, a mimic.† b. in a good or neutral sense. Obsolete.
a. contemptuously or derisively.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > [noun] > silly imitation > one who
ape?c1225
monkey1589
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 182 Lachȝeð þe alde ape [sc. the devil] lude tobismere.
1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips ci. 695 Antichrist, the Ape of our lord Christ.
1592 Greenes Groats-worth of Witte sig. Fv Let those Apes imitate your past excellence.
1607 S. Hieron Spirituall Sonne-ship in Wks. (1620) I. 360 The diuell is Gods ape, and seekes to counterfeit Him almost in euery thing.
1780 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting (ed. 2) IV. vii. 142 Every genius has his apes.
1855 H. Rogers Ess. II. vii. 332 This spurious liberalism, which is but a ridiculous ape of charity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > [noun] > one who or that which imitates
followera1398
imitator1523
counterfeiter1526
counterfeitress1577
ape1594
imitatrix1606
emulator1652
figurer1665
mime1677
copier1679
copist1682
mimicker1693
copyist1756
mimic1791
polygraph1794
polygraphic1797
polygrapher1810
echoer1823
imitatressa1834
me-too1886
copycat1896
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits iv. 51 The wise and discreet is the Ape of God.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 12 The Poets with their Apes, the Painters, Limmers, and Caruers.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) ii. ii. 31 O sleepe, thou Ape of death, lye dull vpon her. View more context for this quotation
1650 E. Ashmole Arcanum in A. Dee Fasciculus Chem. (ed. 3) 201 Philosophy, which is the Ape of Nature.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > foolish person, fool > [noun]
dizzyc825
cang?c1225
foolc1225
apec1330
mopc1330
saddle-goosec1346
mis-feelinga1382
foltc1390
mopec1390
fona1400
buffardc1430
fopc1440
joppec1440
fonda1450
fondlinga1450
insipienta1513
plume of feathers1530
bobolynec1540
dizzard1546
Little Witham?1548
nodc1563
dawkin1565
cocknel1566
nigion1570
niddicock1577
nodcock1577
cuckoo1581
Jack with the feather1581
niddipol1582
noddyship?1589
stirkc1590
fonkin1591
Gibraltar1593
fopper1598
noddypeak1598
coxcombry1600
simple1600
gowka1605
nup1607
fooliaminy1608
silly ass1608
dosser-head1612
dor1616
glow-worm1624
liripipea1625
doodle1629
sop1637
spalt1639
fool's head1650
buffle1655
Jack Adams1656
bufflehead1659
nincompoopc1668
bavian1678
nokes1679
foolanea1681
cod1699
hulver-head1699
nigmenog1699
single ten1699
mud1703
dowf1722
foolatum1740
silly billy1749
tommy noddy1774
arsec1785
nincom1800
silly1807
slob1810
omadhaun1818
potwalloper1820
mosy1824
amadan1825
gump1825
gype1825
oonchook1825
prawn1845
suck-egg1851
goosey1852
nowmun1854
pelican1856
poppy-show1860
buggerlugs1861
damfool1881
mudhead1882
yob1886
peanut head1891
haggis bag1892
poop1893
gazob1906
mush1906
wump1908
zob1911
gorm1912
goof1916
goofus1916
gubbins1916
dumb cluck1922
twat1922
B.F.1925
goofer1925
bird brain1926
berk1929
Berkeley1929
Berkeley Hunt1929
ding1929
loogan1929
stupido1929
poop-stick1930
nelly1931
droop1932
diddy1933
slappy1937
goof ball1938
get1940
poon1940
tonk1941
clot1942
yuck1943
possum1945
gobdaw1947
momo1953
nig-nog1953
plonker1955
weenie1956
nong-nong1959
Berkshire Hunt1960
balloon1965
doofus1965
dork1965
nana1965
shit-for-brains1966
schmoll1967
tosspot1967
lunchbox1969
doof1971
tonto1973
dorkus1979
motorhead1979
mouth-breather1979
wally1980
wally brain1981
der-brain1983
langer1983
numpty1985
sotong1988
fanny1995
fannybaws2000
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > duping, making a fool of > befool, dupe [phrase]
to put an ape in a person's hoodc1330
to glaze one's houvec1369
to cough (a person) a daw, fool, momea1529
to make a fool of1534
to give (any one) the bobc1540
to lead (a person) a dancea1545
to make (someone) an ass1548
to make (a person) an ox1566
to play bob-fool witha1592
to sell any one a bargain1598
to put the fool on1649
to make a monkey (out) of1767
to play (a person) for a sucker (also fool, etc.)1869
to string (someone) along1902
to swing it on or across1923
c1330 Arth. & Merl. 814 Sche nere so michel ape That sche hir laid doun to slape At hir dore.
c1386 G. Chaucer Prioress's Prol. 6 The monk put in the mannes hood an ape And in his wyves eek, by seint Austyn.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 706 He made the person and the peple his apes.
1553 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Eneados iv. Prol. 21 Ȝour trew suardis, [bene] silly goddis apis.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. ix. sig. Ll5v Thus was the ape, By their faire handling, put into Malbeccoes cape.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iv. ii. 195 Iollity for Apes, and greefe for Boyes. View more context for this quotation
1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 154 That she should instigate the titled Ape her Husband to write to me.
5. sea ape n. the fish Squalus Vulpes, also called Sea Fox, and Thresher.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Pleurotremata > [noun] > member of family Alopiidae (sea-ape)
sea-fox1605
thresher1605
sea-ape1607
sea ape1607
sea dog-fish1611
thrasher1638
thrasher fish1658
long-tailed shark1776
thresher fish1817
fox-shark1828
swingle-tail1839
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 482 As the lion recouereth, by eating an Ape of the earth, so is the Dolphin cured by eating an Ape of the Sea.
1769 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. (new ed.) III. iv. 86 Sea Fox or Ape.
1861 J. Couch Hist. Fishes Brit. Islands I. 37 Sea ape = Thrasher.
6. to lead apes in hell: the fancied consequence of dying an old maid. to say an ape's paternoster: to chatter with cold.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > be cold or have sensation of cold > chatter with cold (of teeth)
chatter1537
hack1549
to say an ape's paternoster1578
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > unmarried person(s) > unmarried woman > [verb (intransitive)] > remain unmarried or be old maid
to lead apes in hell1578
to dance barefoota1616
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 28 Rather thou shouldest leade a lyfe to thine owne lykeinge in earthe, then..leade Apes in Hell.
1605 London Prodigall i. 2 'Tis an old proverb, and you know it well, That women dying maids lead apes in hell.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Grelotter, To shake, tremble..say an Apes Pater-noster.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) ii. i. 34 She is your treasure..I must..for your loue to her, leade Apes in hell . View more context for this quotation
1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. xi. 54 He would flay the Fox, say the Apes Paternoster.
1718 S. Centlivre Bold Stroke for Wife ii. i. 14 Poor Girl,—she must certainly lead Apes, as the Saying is.
1830 T. P. Thompson in Westm. Rev. Jan. 146 Joining with other old women, in leading their apes in Tartarus.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > giddiness, empty-headedness > [adjective]
idlec825
giddyc1000
volage?a1366
apec1370
foolisha1382
vain1390
idleful1483
volageous1487
glaikit1488
cock-brained1530
apish1532
empty1550
sillyc1555
frivolous?1563
tickle-headed1583
light-braineda1593
frothy1593
owlish1596
bird-witted1605
empty-headed1614
idle-headed1614
empty-pateda1628
marmosetical1630
grollish1637
feather-headed1647
nonsense1647
whirl-crowned1648
feather-brained1649
swimmering1650
soft-pated1651
weather-headeda1652
shuttlecock1660
drum-headed1664
chicken-brained1678
halokit1724
desipient1727
shatter-pated1727
scattered-brained1747
light-thoughted1777
scatter-brained1804
shandy-pated1806
hellicat1815
feather-pated1819
inane1819
weather-brained1826
bubble-headed1827
tomfoolish1838
bird-brained1892
tottle1894
fluffy1898
scatty1911
wandery1912
scattery1924
twitterpated1943
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > giddiness, empty-headedness > [adverb]
giddilya1250
ape1509
vainly1588
emptily1591
frivolously1611
frothily1727
owlishly1846
inanely1883
c1370 J. Wyclif Wks. (1879) 412 Many siche ape resouns han men herd aȝenus crist.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. xlvi Some ar Ape dronke full of lawghter and of toyes Some mery dronke.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
ape-headed adj.
ΚΠ
1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam (ed. 4) 29 Ape-headed pullets, which invent Antique foole-fangles.
ape-like adj.
ΚΠ
1859 R. F. Burton in Jrnl. Royal Geogr. Soc. 29 314 The general aspect in old age..among the women, is hideously ape-like.
1859 J. S. Mill On Liberty 106 Any other faculty than the apelike one of imitation.
b.
ape-mind n.
C2. † ape-bearer n. Obsolete one who carried a monkey about for exhibition, a strolling buffoon.† ape-fox n. Obsolete ? the opossum.† ape-keeper n. Obsolete = ape-bearer.† ape-leader n. Obsolete an old maid, see 6.† ape-ware n. Obsolete counterfeit wares.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iii. 94 I know this man well, he hath bene since an Ape-bearer . View more context for this quotation
ape-carrier n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > performance of jester or comedian > [noun] > jester or comedian
jugglerc1175
foolc1300
jangler1303
fool sagec1330
ribald1340
ape-ward1362
japer1377
sage fool1377
harlotc1390
disporter?a1475
jocular?a1475
joculatora1500
jester?1518
idiot1526
scoffer1530
sporter1531
dizzardc1540
vice1552
antic1564
bauble-bearer1568
scoggin1579
buffoon1584
pleasant1595
zany1596
baladine1599
clown1600
fiddle1600
mimic1601
ape-carrier1615
mime1616
mime-man1631
merry man1648
tomfool1650
pickle-herring1656
badine1670
puddingc1675
merry-andrew1677
mimical1688
Tom Tram1688
Monaghan1689
pickled herring1711
ethologist1727
court-foola1797
Tom1817
mimer1819
fun-maker1835
funny man1839
mimester1846
comic1857
comedian1860
jokesman1882
comique1886
Joey1896
tummler1938
alternative comedian1981
Andrew-
1615 T. Overbury et al. New & Choise Characters with Wife (6th impr.) sig. M8v There is nothing in the earth so pittifull, no not an Ape-carrier.
1631 B. Jonson New Inne v. v. 98 Iuglers, and Gipseys,..Colonies of beggars, Tumblers, Ape-carriers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Implacenta > subclass Marsupialia (marsupials) > [noun] > family Didelphidae (opossum)
ape-fox1594
fox-ape1594
opossum1610
possum1613
cerigo1708
pedimane1835
marsupial rat1863
1594 T. Blundeville Exercises v. f. 266v Gesner calleth this beast an Ape-foxe, or a Foxe-ape.
ΚΠ
1600 W. Cornwallis Ess. (1632) ii Let Ape-keepers, and Players catch the eares of their Auditory.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > unmarried person(s) > unmarried woman > [noun] > elderly
old maid1530
old maiden1566
pussock1622
ape-leader1652
thornback1694
spinster1719
tabby1748
virgin1759
tea-bottle1909
1652 R. Brome Joviall Crew ii. sig. D3 I will rather hazard my being one of the Devil's Ape-leaders, then to marry while he is melancholly.
ape-ward n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > performance of jester or comedian > [noun] > jester or comedian
jugglerc1175
foolc1300
jangler1303
fool sagec1330
ribald1340
ape-ward1362
japer1377
sage fool1377
harlotc1390
disporter?a1475
jocular?a1475
joculatora1500
jester?1518
idiot1526
scoffer1530
sporter1531
dizzardc1540
vice1552
antic1564
bauble-bearer1568
scoggin1579
buffoon1584
pleasant1595
zany1596
baladine1599
clown1600
fiddle1600
mimic1601
ape-carrier1615
mime1616
mime-man1631
merry man1648
tomfool1650
pickle-herring1656
badine1670
puddingc1675
merry-andrew1677
mimical1688
Tom Tram1688
Monaghan1689
pickled herring1711
ethologist1727
court-foola1797
Tom1817
mimer1819
fun-maker1835
funny man1839
mimester1846
comic1857
comedian1860
jokesman1882
comique1886
Joey1896
tummler1938
alternative comedian1981
Andrew-
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. vi. 119 ‘No,’ quaþ an Apeward ‘for nout þat I knowe.’
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > merchandise > [noun] > counterfeit goods
ape-warec1230
St Martin's stuff1598
St Martin's ware1648
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 126 Ne mei he bute schawin forð sumhwet of his eapeware.
Draft additions July 2009
apeshit adj. coarse slang crazed, infuriated, excited; mad, insane.Originally and frequently in to go apeshit: = to go ape at sense 2c.
ΚΠ
1955 Amer. Speech 30 117 [U.S. Air Force slang.] Go ape shit, react in an irrational manner; go into a frenzy.
1961 D. J. Plantz Sweeney Squadron xv. 212 If Captain Christiansen goes to base hospital, I'm riding next to this ape-shit bastard.
1976 New Society 7 Oct. 3/3 The kids go ‘ape-shit’—leaping high off the ground, as if on invisible pogo-sticks.
1991 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Sept. 244/1 All this stuff leaked to the press, and the Japanese were ape-shit.
2006 ‘A. Ant’ Stand & Deliver ix. 213 We bumped into him in the lobby of our hotel and he went apeshit at her for being with me.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
apev.
/eɪp/, U.S. /eɪp/ 1. To imitate, mimic:
a. pretentiously, irrationally, or absurdly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > imitate [verb (transitive)] > ape, mock, or mimic
apize1598
zany1602
imitate1613
mocka1616
apea1640
monkeya1658
mimic1687
a1640 P. Massinger City-Madam (1658) iv. iv. 43 Why should you ape The fashions of Court-Ladies?
1713 J. Addison Cato i. ii Curse on the Stripling! how he apes his Sire!
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 179. ⁋3 When they assume the dignity of knowledge, or ape the sprightliness of wit.
1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood I. x. 289 That foolish emulation which makes one class ape another from afar.
b. in a good or neutral sense. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > imitate [verb (transitive)]
evenlecheOE
resemble?c1400
imitate1534
sequest1567
succeed1577
act1599
pattern1601
similize1606
like1613
echoa1616
sample1616
ape1634
transcribe1646
copy1648
copy1649
mime1728
borrowa1847
to make likea1881
replicate1915
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 15 The women imitate (or Ape) the men.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Staff. 38 Alabaster..which Apes Ivory in the whiteness and smoothness thereof.
1663 G. Mackenzie Religio Stoici 111 Art, which is man's offspring, doth ape nature.
1835 J. Ross Narr. Second Voy. North-west Passage xvi. 252 Aping the appearance of the animal.
2. to ape it: to play the ape, mimic the reality.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > imitate [verb (intransitive)] > apishly
to play the ape1579
to ape ita1658
a1658 J. Cleveland Definition of Protector 2 What's a Protector? He's a stately Thing, That Apes it in the Non-age of a King.
1672 T. Jacombe Several Serm. Rom. viii. 502 The Devil, who loves to ape it after God.
1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Witt against Wisdom 81 One apes it about in the streets, to court popularity.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.a700
v.1634