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The word for today is…

emulate (verb):

1a: to strive to equal or excel
b: imitate – especially : to imitate by means of an emulator
2: to equal or approach equality with

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but we’ll posit that emulation is even more so. What’s the difference between imitating and emulating? Sometimes not a thing: emulate can be used as a synonym of imitate, as in “a painter who emulates her teacher’s style.” But more often, emulate is about trying to equal or surpass someone you admire by striving to master what they’ve accomplished. The word was adopted in the late 16th century from a form of the Latin word aemulari, meaning “to vie with; to rival; to imitate.” Imitate was adopted about fifty years earlier from a form of the Latin word imitari, meaning “to follow as a pattern; to copy.” Emulate emulated its success.

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