imago
nounUK /ɪˈmeɪɡəʊ/ · US /ɪˈmeɪɡoʊ/
Etymology From Latin imāgō. Doublet of image. Compare typologically a Russian term for coordinate larva: личи́нка (ličínka) (akin to лик (lik)).
1
Biology, Entomology, Natural sciences The final developmental stage of an insect after undergoing metamorphosis.
- ‘But still,’ he said to himself, drawing the metamorphoses of a red admiral, egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and imago on his pad, ‘what shall I say to him when we meet?’1973, Patrick O'Brian, HMS Surprise:
2
Human sciences, Psychology, Sciences An idealised concept of a loved one, formed in childhood and retained unconsciously into adult life, the basis for the psychological formation of personality archetypes.
- Derived terms
- imago clipeata, imagology, pseudimago, subimago
- Related terms
- imago Dei