Main Entry:

like·ness

Pronunciation:

\ˈlīk-nəs\

Function:

noun

Date:

before 12th century

1 : copy, portrait 2 : appearance, semblance 3 : the quality or state of being like : resemblance

synonyms likeness, similarity, resemblance, similitude, analogy mean agreement or correspondence in details. likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike <a remarkable likeness to his late father> <some similarity between the two cases>. resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities <statements that bear little resemblance to the truth>. similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions <two schools of social thought showing points of similitude>. analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities <pointed out analogies to past wars>.