copy: [14] Copy has a very devious semantic history. It comes from Latin copia ‘abundance’ (source also of English copious), and came into English via Old French copie. In addition to its central sense ‘abundance’, Latin copia could also mean ‘power, right’, and it appears that its use in such phrases as ‘give someone the right to transcribe’ led to its application to ‘right of reproduction’ and ultimately to simply ‘reproduction’. => copious
copy (n.)
early 14c., "written account or record," from Old French copie (13c.), from Medieval Latin copia "reproduction, transcript," from Latin copia "plenty, means" (see copious). Sense extended 15c. to any specimen of writing (especially MS for a printer) and any reproduction or imitation. Related: Copyist.
copy (v.)
late 14c., from Old French copier (14c.), from Medieval Latin copiare "to transcribe," originally "to write in plenty," from Latin copia (see copy (n.)). Hence, "to write an original text many times." Related: Copied; copying. Figurative sense of "to imitate" is attested from 1640s.
雙語例句
1. I autographed a copy of one of my books.
我在自己的一本書上簽了名。
來自柯林斯例句
2. The new copiers only copy onto one side of the paper.
新復印機只能單面復印。
來自柯林斯例句
3. The second-hand version is a poor copy of the original.
盜版版本是對原版的低劣復制。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Readers should send a copy of unanswered letters to their MP.