assimilate

t. & i. [In Ger. a imiliren; Fr. a i miler; Sp. a similar; Port. as similar; Ital. a imigliare, a i mil are: from Lat. as similis similar; ad to, and similis = like; or from Lat, a imulo (there is not an a imilo ) =to make like, to compare.] A. Transitive: *I. Ordinary Language: 1. To compare. "To these 4 brutes, living in this estate, Foure kindes of inen we may a imilate ." Times Whistle, E. E. Text Soc . (ed. Cowper), De quatuor element is, 77, 78. 2. To create a likene between two or more different things; to render one thing like another. "A ferine and nece itous kind of life would easily a imilate at least the next generation to barbarism and ferine ne ," - Hae. "The downy flakes Descending, and with never-ceasing lapse Softly alighting upon all below, A imilate all objects." Cowper: Task, iv. 329. 3. To convert into a substance identical with, or at least similar to, that operating upon it. [II. Physiol .] "Tasting concoct, digest, a imilate, And corporeal to incorporeal turn. Milton: P. L., v. 412. "Hence also animals and vegetables may a imilate their nourishment, moist nourishment easily changing its texture till it becomes like the dense earth." Newton . II. Animal and Vegetable Physiol. In the same sense as I. 3. (Used of the power po e ed by plants and animals of converting their appropriate nourishment into portions of themselves.) B. Intransitive: I. Ordinary Language: To become similar. (Followed by the preposition to .) "With regard to the spelling of native names, I have adopted that which a imilates most to the English pronunciation."-Hooker: Him a lay an Jour nals , vol. 1., Preface, p. xviii. IL Animal and Vegetable Physiol. To be converted into the substance of an animal or plant. as-sim-il-a-ted, pa. par. & a. [ASSIMILATE, v.]