also 7–8 -ulate. [f. L. assimilāt- ppl. stem of assimilā-re to liken, f. ad- to + simil-is like: cf. F. assimiler, 16th c.]
I. To make or be like.
1. trans. To make like to, cause to resemble.
1628. Bp. Hall, Old Relig., 195. Religion … doth more assimilate and vnite vs to that vnchangeable Deity.
1721. R. Keith, T. à Kempis’ Vall. Lillies, i. 5. Thou art assimilated to the holy Angels.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., x. 346. Observe the dyer’s hand, assimilating itself to what it works in.
1866. (13 March) Bright, Reform, Sp. (1876), 344. To assimilate our law in this respect to the law of Scotland.
b. with with. (In this const. some influence of II is apparent; as not only resemblance, but also alliance or incorporation is implied.)
1849. Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, vi. § 16. 178. Stains, or vegetation, which assimilate the architecture with the work of Nature.
1865. Mill, Repr. Gov., 52. Whose education and way of life assimilate them with the rich.
c. without prepositional const.: To make alike.
1785. Cowper, Task, IV. 328. The downy flakes … Softly alighting upon all below, Assimilate all objects.
2. intr. To be or become like to, resemble.
1837. Lytton, Athens, II. 189. Whose courage assimilated to their own.
1849. Miss Muloch, Ogilvies, xxxii. (1875), 244. That outward empressement which sometimes assimilates to affectation.
b. with with. (See note to 1 b.)
1768. Blackstone, Comm., V. 408. Which revenues … do always assimilate, or take the same nature, with the antient revenues.
1851. D. Mitchell, Fresh Glean., 245. It yet more assimilates with the character of New England scenery.
3. trans. To bring into conformity to, adapt. arch.
1664. H. More, Apol., 501. That the Body of Christ assimilated itself to the Regions it passed in his Ascension.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), IV. 245. This lady … half-assimilates me to her own virtue.
1791. Mackintosh, Vind. Gall., Wks. 1846, III. 35. Absolute monarchies … assimilate every thing with which they are connected to their own genius.
4. intr. (for refl.) To conform to, act in accordance with. arch.
1792. Anecd. Pitt, III. xliv. 177. The honest American, that will not assimilate to the futility and levity of Frenchmen.
1795. Coleridge, Friend, III. xvi. (1867), 214. With whose prejudices and ferocity their unbending virtue forbade them to assimilate.
5. trans. To liken, compare, put into the same class. Const. to, with.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whis., etc. (1871), 118. To these 4 brutes … Foure kindes of men we may assimilate.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), I. v. 22. Which we can assimilate with no shells that are known.
1794. J. Hutton, Philos. Light, etc., 114. To assimilate things upon fallacious grounds.
1855. H. Spencer, Psychol. (1872), I. II. vii. 255. A mouse’s squeak assimilates itself in thought with sounds of high pitch.
1869. Lecky, Europ. Morals, II. iv. 273. Marcus Aurelius mournfully assimilated the career of a conqueror to that of a simple robber.
† 6. trans. To resemble, be like, take after. Obs.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 17. The Image of it [the Larynx] assimulateth a Shield.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 139. The reason that children … assimulate their nurses more than their mothers.
1661. K. W., Conf. Charac. (1860), 30. He much assimulates the Saracen’s head without Newgate.
II. To absorb and incorporate.
7. To convert into a substance of its own nature, as the bodily organs convert food into blood, and thence into animal tissue; to take in and appropriate as nourishment; to absorb into the system, incorporate. Cf. ASSIMILATION 4.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, V. 64. Those thynges were … assimulated, and made like to nourish, and restore the body.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. iii. 85. The Fire assimulates the Stubble, and converts it into Fire.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 309. Aliment that is easily assimilated or turned into Blood.
1869. Mrs. Somerville, Molec. Sc., I. i. 14. Vegetables decompose it [carbonic acid], assimilate the carbon and set the oxygen free.
b. fig.
a. 1631. Donne, Select. (1840), 28. The understanding believer, he [the adversary] must chaw, and pick bones, before he come to assimilate him, and make him like himself.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 95, ¶ 20. Falsehood by long use is assimilated to the mind, as poison to the body.
1850. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), I. II. 73. His mind had no power to assimilate the lessons of history.
8. intr. To become of the same substance; to become absorbed or incorporated into the system.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 680. Birds be commonly better meat than beasts, because their flesh doth assimilate more finely.
1658. A. Fox, trans. Würtz’ Surg., I. iii. 12. Stitch none of the loose pieces of flesh, they will assimilate no more.
1866. Dickens, Uncomm. Trav., xvi. 115/1. The nightly pint of beer, instead of assimilating naturally.
b. fig.
1761. Churchill, Rosciad, Wks. 1763, I. 23. He stands aloof from all … And scorns, like Scotsmen, to assimilate.
1864. J. H. Newman, Apol., 350. I am a foreign material, and cannot assimilate with the Church of England.
¶ Occas. for ASSIMULATE, q.v.
