English
likeness
Likeness comes from Old English līcness ‘the quality of being like or equal’, from Proto-West Germanic *galīk ‘alike, similar’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm ‘with, near, by, along’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱóm‘with, near, by, along’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*ga-‘Indicates association or togetherness’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*galīkaz‘alike, similar’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*galīk‘alike, similar’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanic, derivedc. 200–500 CE*galīkanassīreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150līcness‘the quality of being like or equal’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500liknesse
- Englishearliest quotation 1822likeness
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱóm‘with, near, by, along’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*ga-‘Indicates association or togetherness’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*galīkaz‘alike, similar’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*galīk‘alike, similar’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanic, derivedc. 200–500 CE*galīkanassīreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150līcness‘the quality of being like or equal’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500liknesse
- Englishearliest quotation 1822likeness
Earliest quotation: 1822, Ludwig Tieck: “Erich thought he observed a likeness between the stranger…”
Formed from like + -ness
Proto-Germanic *līką ‘body’
…
Proto-Germanic *līkāną ‘to conform’
Proto-West Germanic *līkēn ‘to be pleasing’
Old English līcian ‘to like’
Middle English liken ‘to be appealing or pleasant’
English like
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm ‘with, near, by, along’
among, consider, competition, conference, counter, concrete, consistent, con, comply, cum, commodity, cue, compulsory, hind, contra, compel, concierge, connotation, kata, condiment, condescend, 32 more
through Proto-Germanic *ga- ‘Indicates association or togetherness’
Today it means
noun The state or quality of being like or alike.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm / likeness