aemulor
ἐν πίθῳ ἡ κεραμεία γιγνομένη → trying to run before you can walk, the potter's art starting on a big jar
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
aemŭlor: ātus, 1, v. dep. aemulus,
I to rival, to endeavor to equal or to excel one, to emulate, vie with, in a good and bad sense; hence (as a consequence of this action). to equal one by emulating.
I In a good sense, constr. with acc., v. II.: quoniam aemulari non licet, nunc invides, Plaut. Mil. 3, 2, 26: omnes ejus instituta laudare facilius possunt quam aemulari, Cic. Fl. 26; Nep. Epam. 5; Liv. 1, 18; cf. Tac. H. 3, 81: Pindarum quisquis studet aemulari, * Hor. C. 4, 2, 1; Quint. 10, 1, 62: severitatem alicujus, Tac. H. 2, 68: virtutes majorum, id. Agr. 15 et saep.—Transf. of things: Basilicae uvae Albanum vinum aemulantur, Plin. 14, 2, 4, § 30.—Prov.: aemulari umbras, to fight shadows, Prop. 3, 32, 19 (cf. Cic. Att. 15, 20: qui umbras timet).—
II In a bad sense, to strive after or vie with enviously, to be envious of, be jealous of, ζηλοτυπεῖν; constr. with dat., while in the first signif. down to Quint. with acc.; v. Spald. ad Quint. 10, 1, 122; Rudd. II. p. 151: iis aemulemur, qui ea habent, quae nos habere cupimus, Cic. Tusc. 1, 19; cf. 4, 26; Just. 6, 9.—Also with cum: ne mecum aemuletur, Liv. 28, 43: inter se, Tac. H. 2, 81.—With inf.: aemulabantur corruptissimum quemque pretio inlicere, Tac. H. 2, 62.—Hence, * aemŭlanter, adv., emulously, Tert. c. Haer. 40.
