- Like
- Like Like (l[imac]k), a. [Compar. {Liker} (l[imac]k"[~e]r);
superl. {Likest}.] [OE. lik, ilik, gelic, AS. gel[=i]c, fr.
pref. ge- + l[=i]c body, and orig. meaning, having the same
body, shape, or appearance, and hence, like; akin to OS.
gil[=i]k, D. gelijk, G. gleich, OHG. gil[=i]h, Icel. l[=i]kr,
gl[=i]kr, Dan. lig, Sw. lik, Goth. galeiks, OS. lik body, D.
lijk, G. leiche, Icel. l[=i]k, Sw. lik, Goth. leik. The
English adverbial ending-ly is from the same adjective. Cf.
{Each}, {Such}, {Which}.]
1. Having the same, or nearly the same, appearance,
qualities, or characteristics; resembling; similar to;
similar; alike; -- often with in and the particulars of
the resemblance; as, they are like each other in features,
complexion, and many traits of character.
[1913 Webster]
'T is as like you As cherry is to cherry. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Like master, like man. --Old Prov. [1913 Webster]
He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. --Ps. cxlvii. 16. [1913 Webster]
Note: To, which formerly often followed like, is now usually omitted. [1913 Webster]
2. Equal, or nearly equal; as, fields of like extent. [1913 Webster]
More clergymen were impoverished by the late war than ever in the like space before. --Sprat. [1913 Webster]
3. Having probability; affording probability; probable; likely.
Usage: [Likely is more used now.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
But it is like the jolly world about us will scoff at the paradox of these practices. --South. [1913 Webster]
Many were not easy to be governed, nor like to conform themselves to strict rules. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]
4. Inclined toward; disposed to; as, to feel like taking a walk. [1913 Webster]
{Had like} (followed by the infinitive), had nearly; came little short of. [1913 Webster]
Had like to have been my utter overthrow. --Sir W. Raleigh [1913 Webster]
Ramona had like to have said the literal truth, . . . but recollected herself in time. --Mrs. H. H. Jackson. [1913 Webster]
{Like figures} (Geom.), similar figures. [1913 Webster]
Note: Like is used as a suffix, converting nouns into adjectives expressing resemblance to the noun; as, manlike, like a man; childlike, like a child; godlike, like a god, etc. Such compounds are readily formed whenever convenient, and several, as crescentlike, serpentlike, hairlike, etc., are used in this book, although, in some cases, not entered in the vocabulary. Such combinations as bell-like, ball-like, etc., are hyphened. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
