imago

[ih-mey-goh, ih-mah-]

noun

plural

imagoes, imagines 

1. Entomology.,  an adult insect.

2. Psychoanalysis.,  an idealized concept of a loved one, formed in childhood and retained unaltered in adult life.

imago

/ ɪˈmeɪɡəʊ /

noun

1. an adult sexually mature insect produced after metamorphosis

2. psychoanal an idealized image of another person, usually a parent, acquired in childhood and carried in the unconscious in later life

imago

plural

imagoes 

1. An insect in its sexually mature adult stage after metamorphosis.

2. Compare larva nymph pupa

Word History and Origins

Origin of imago¹

1790–1800; < New Latin, Latin imāgō; image

Word History and Origins

Origin of imago¹

C18: New Latin, from Latin: likeness; see _image

Example Sentences

Cameron imagines the military to be like summer camp, until reality sets in.

From Los Angeles Times

But the company is in the process of scaling up, and Mr Oyler imagines in a few years it will be able to handle all the facility's material "ready for when the regulations require".

From BBC

“Motel Du Cap” reflects that mindset in songs about family and devotion such as “Deserve You” and “Castle in the Sand,” in which Joel imagines the sound of his children playing down the hall.

From Los Angeles Times

Welch imagines that Morgan has queer people or people of color in her life who helped advance her career.

From Salon

The 1971 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice imagines the final days of Jesus’ life, including his agony, before he ultimately accepts his fate.

From Los Angeles Times