1
as in imitator
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way
she prides herself on being an innovator in fashion, and not a mere copyist
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2
as in scribe
one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts
some scholars argue that the vexing passage reflects a misreading of the text by an early copyist
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Recent Examples of copyist
Material features can also include things like colophons—formulas at the end of a text that attest to its completeness and fidelity and often also include the name of the copyist—doodles in the margins, mistakes and corrections, even handwriting style.
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The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025
The watercolor was recently rejected by specialists in 2020, who believe the copyist worked from a photograph of the work that was first published in 1904.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024
In an effort to thwart copyists, together these purist designers showed after the scheduled Fashion Week—and this was back when editors were still sailing to Paris from New York.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023
As befits an artist who began her career working as a music copyist for famed Miles Davis collaborator Gil Evans, one of her key early mentors, Schneider composes with such skill, verve and clarity that her orchestra becomes a unique instrument of her own making.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2023
As previously announced, the 2022 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre will be presented to the Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC); Broadway For All; music copyist, Emily Grishman; Feinstein’s/54 Below and United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 9 May 2022
But her intention has been to draw inspiration and insight from each, without being a copyist.
—Jon Garelick, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Nov. 2022
Grishman is a music copyist for Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater, who works closely with composers, orchestrators and players.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2022
Kane was married eight times, including to singer-actress Jaye P. Morgan, agent Carol Faith and lastly, in 1981, to the former JoAnn Johnson, a studio music copyist.
—Jon Burlingame, Variety, 23 June 2022
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025
The watercolor was recently rejected by specialists in 2020, who believe the copyist worked from a photograph of the work that was first published in 1904.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024
In an effort to thwart copyists, together these purist designers showed after the scheduled Fashion Week—and this was back when editors were still sailing to Paris from New York.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023
As befits an artist who began her career working as a music copyist for famed Miles Davis collaborator Gil Evans, one of her key early mentors, Schneider composes with such skill, verve and clarity that her orchestra becomes a unique instrument of her own making.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2023
As previously announced, the 2022 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre will be presented to the Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC); Broadway For All; music copyist, Emily Grishman; Feinstein’s/54 Below and United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 9 May 2022
But her intention has been to draw inspiration and insight from each, without being a copyist.
—Jon Garelick, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Nov. 2022
Grishman is a music copyist for Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater, who works closely with composers, orchestrators and players.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2022
Kane was married eight times, including to singer-actress Jaye P. Morgan, agent Carol Faith and lastly, in 1981, to the former JoAnn Johnson, a studio music copyist.
—Jon Burlingame, Variety, 23 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copyist
Noun
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Yet courts and scribes, like the BBC, call it a myth, sayin’ attacks be crime, not race-driven, and land laws aim to fix old wrongs, not target whites.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
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While the cameramen and scribes eventually gave up as their deadlines loomed, hardy fans stayed, still believing Kohli might just magically appear right at the very end.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
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By then, Furlan had amassed roughly 8.6 million followers on the now-defunct social media app Vine — the most of any woman on the site.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
19 May 2025
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The club has four million followers on Instagram — double that of Sunday’s fellow finalists, United — and over 800k followers on TikTok.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Noun
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This should not be a source of huge disquiet; not too long ago, Newcastle won a proper cup final rather than an echo of it.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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Become a Subscriber Last year, the United States went through a presidential election filled with Shakespearean echoes.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Copyist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copyist. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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