What does aper mean?
An aper is a person who imitates the behavior, mannerisms, speech, or style of someone else, usually without adding anything original of their own. The word is built transparently from the verb 'to ape' — meaning to mimic — combined with the agentive suffix '-er', so it names the doer of that action just as 'runner' names one who runs. Because mindless imitation has long been viewed as a failing, 'aper' almost always carries a dismissive or critical tone: calling someone an aper suggests they lack originality and merely copy their betters. It appears most often in literary criticism, artistic commentary, and pointed descriptions of social behavior, as when a reviewer labels a young writer an aper of a more famous stylist. Though never common, the word remains a sharp, economical way to describe unoriginal imitation.
nounA person who imitates or mimics another person's behavior, mannerisms, or style, typically in an unoriginal or servile way.
- A person who imitates or mimics another's behavior, mannerisms, or style, usually with a negative connotation of unoriginality.
"The young comedian was dismissed by critics as a mere aper of better-known stand-ups."
"Critics dismissed the novelist as a mere aper of Hemingway's terse style."
"Tired of being called an aper, she finally developed a voice that was entirely her own."
Standard regular plural; rarely encountered since the word itself is uncommon.
"The salon was full of apers, each copying the last guest's pose."
An 'aper' is literally someone who 'apes' you — the word wears its meaning on its sleeve.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aper
Aper is formed from the English verb 'ape' (to imitate), which descends from the Old English noun 'apa' meaning the animal, combined with the standard agentive suffix '-er'. The animal name 'apa' is of Germanic origin, and its relatives appear across the Germanic languages, such as German 'Affe'. The derivative 'aper' thus arose natively within English rather than being borrowed, and the related adjective 'apish' shares the same root.
How aper is actually used
The word carries a mildly derogatory connotation, implying slavish or unoriginal imitation rather than respectful homage. It is relatively rare in modern usage and informal-to-literary in register.
Easily confused with aper
A caper is a pickled flower bud used as seasoning, or a playful leap — entirely unrelated to an aper, which is a person who imitates others.