imago

/ɪˈmeɪɡoʊ/
noun
  1. The final, adult stage of an insect after it has completed its metamorphosis, especially a butterfly or moth.
    • Entomologists study the imago to understand the insect's full development.
    • In the life cycle of a dragonfly, the imago is the winged adult that flies and reproduces.
    • The caterpillar spun a cocoon and emerged as a beautiful imago.
  2. An idealized mental image of someone, especially a parent, that influences a person's behavior and relationships in adulthood.
    • The concept of the imago is important in psychoanalysis for understanding unconscious patterns.
    • In therapy, she explored how her imago of her father affected her romantic choices.
    • He realized his imago of the perfect partner was based on childhood memories.
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