a. [f. APE sb. + -ISH.]

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  1.  Of the nature or appearance of an ape.

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1570.  Levins, Manip., 144. Apish, simialis.

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1851.  Ruskin, Stones of Ven. (1874), I. App. 363. Two devilish apes or apish devils, I know not which.

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  2.  Ape-like in manner; befitting an ape; fantastically foolish, affected, silly, trifling.

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1532.  More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 358/2. Mad apishe iesting against the … blessed sacramentes.

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1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 513/1. The Popish priests are appointed to play other apish toyes.

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1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 35, ¶ 7. Little Apish Tricks and Buffooneries.

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1751.  Smollett, Per. Pic., lxxxviii. He bowed with a thousand apish congees.

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1826.  Scott, Woodst., xxiv. The apish gallantry of a fantastic boy.

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  3.  Ape-like in imitation; unreasoningly imitative.

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1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 174/2. This was but an apishe following of that which God had appointed the fathers.

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1621.  Sanderson, Serm., Ad. Pop. iii. (1674), 178. We are but too apish, apt to be led much by examples.

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1818.  Byron, Childe Har., IV. lxxxix. Men bled In imitation of the things they fear’d, And fought and conquer’d, and the same course steer’d At apish distance.

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