Facsimile, n.; pl. Facsimiles (-l.
Etymology: [L. fac simile make like; or an abbreviation of factum simile made like; facere to make + similes like. See Fact, and Simile.]
A copy of anything made, either so as to be deceptive or so as to give every part and detail of the original; an exact copy or likeness. Facsimile telegraph, a telegraphic apparatus reproducing messages in autograph.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Facsimile
, (
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for facsimile; he lists it under duplicate, model.
Where he writes about it:
A facsimile is like the original in appearance; a duplicate is the same as the original in substance and effect; a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence is not a duplicate. — from duplicate
A facsimile of a key might be quite useless; a duplicate will open the lock. — from duplicate