like

like
\ \ English has a diverse group of words spelled like, but they all come ultimately from the same source. This was prehistoric Germanic *līkamappearance, form, body’ (source also of the lych- of English lych-gate [15], which originally signified the gate through which a coffin was carried into a churchyard). From it was derived the verb *līkōjan, which passed into English as like. It originally meant ‘please’, but by the 12th century had done a semantic somersault to ‘find pleasing’. The same Germanic *likam produced English alike, literally ‘similar in appearance’, whose Old Norse relative líkr was borrowed into English as the adjective like [12]. Its adverbial and prepositional uses developed in the later Middle Ages. Also from Old Norse came the derived adjective likely [13].
\ \ English each and such were formed from the ancestor of like.
\ \ Cf.EACH, SUCH

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • like — verb. I should like is normal in BrE and I would like in other varieties, although in practice the contracted form I d like is common, especially in speech. These forms are followed either by a to infinitive (I should like to come too) or by an… …   Modern English usage

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  • like — like1 [līk] adj. [ME lik, aphetic for ilik < OE gelic, similar, equal, lit., of the same form or shape, akin to Ger gleich < PGmc * galīka < * ga , prefix of uncert. meaning + * līka, body, (ON līk, Goth leik, OE lic): for IE base see… …   English World dictionary

  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • like# — like vb Like, love, eiyoy, relish, fancy, dote are comparable when meaning to be so attracted to a person or thing as to regard him or it with favor. Like (opposed to dislike), the most general and, especially when unqualified, the most colorless …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Like Me — «Like Me» Сингл Girlicious из альбома …   Википедия

  • like — Ⅰ. like [1] ► PREPOSITION 1) similar to. 2) in the manner of. 3) in a way appropriate to. 4) in this manner. 5) such as. 6) used to ask about someone s or something s characteristics …   English terms dictionary

  • Like — Like, adv. [AS. gel[=i]ce. See {Like}, a.] 1. In a manner like that of; in a manner similar to; as, do not act like him. [1913 Webster] He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. Job xii. 25. [1913 Webster] Note: Like, as here used, is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • like so — like this/like so/spoken phrase used when showing someone exactly how to do something Enter your details here in this box, like so. Thesaurus: describing or relating to ways of doing thingshyponym systems and methods for doing thingssynonym …   Useful english dictionary

  • Like a G6 — Far East Movement feat. Dev The Cataracs Veröffentlichung 13. April 2010 Länge 3:40 Genre(s) Hip House, Electro House, Electro Hop …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Like — (l[imac]k), v. i. 1. To be pleased; to choose. [1913 Webster] He may either go or stay, as he best likes. Locke. [1913 Webster] 2. To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition). [Obs.] [1913 Webster] You… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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