Etymology: < classical Latin mīmus < ancient Greek μῖμος , of unknown origin, possibly a loan; both major strands of meaning (performer and performance) are recorded in classical Latin and ancient Greek. Compare Middle French, French mime small comedy performed in antiquity (1520; see sense 1a), actor in mimes in antiquity (1560; see sense 5), author of mimes in antiquity (1752), person skilled in mimicry (1783; see sense 4), Italian mimo actor in mimes (a1342; a1530 in sense 1a), Spanish mimo actor in mimes (1490), Portuguese mimo actor in mimes (1813).Compare rare Old English mīma (masculine) performer in a mime (compare sense 5), used of both male and female performers, < classical Latin mīmus, and perhaps in application to female performers influenced also by post-classical Latin mima female performer in a mime (a709 in a British source), by analogy with the -a ending of the Old English weak masculine declension. The word occurs only in the Old Eng. Martyrology, and there is no continuity of use with the later word:OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Julius) 25 Aug. 188 Se [sc. St Genesius] wæs ærest sumes kaseres mima, þæt is leasere, ond sang beforan him scandlicu leoþ ond plegode scandlice plegan.OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Julius) 19 Oct. 233 Seo [sc. St Pelagia] wæs æryst mima in Antiocha þære ceastre, þæt is scericge on urum geðeode.

Etymology: Acronym < the initial letters of Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions.

Etymology: < mime n.¹ Compare French mimer (1838), ancient Greek μιμεῖσθαι to imitate ( < μῖμος mime n.¹).