a. [ Compar. Liker superl. Likest. ] [ OE. lik, ilik, gelic, AS. gelīc, fr. pref. ge- + līc body, and orig. meaning, having the same body, shape, or appearance, and hence, like; akin to OS. gilīk, D. gelijk, G. gleich, OHG. gilīh, Icel. līkr, glīkr, Dan. lig, Sw. lik, Goth. galeiks, OS. lik body, D. lijk, G. leiche, Icel. līk, 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 ]

☞ 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. [ 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 ]

☞ 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 ]

adv. [ AS. gelīce. 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 ]

☞ Like, as here used, is regarded by some grammarians as a preposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In a like or similar manner. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Ps. ciii. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Likely; probably. “Like enough it will.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which is equal or similar to another; the counterpart; an exact resemblance; a copy. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was a man, take him for all in all,
I shall not look upon his like again. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A liking; a preference; inclination; -- usually in pl.; as, we all have likes and dislikes. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Golf) The stroke which equalizes the number of strokes played by the opposing player or side; as, to play the like. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Liked p. pr. & vb. n. Liking. ] [ OE. liken to please, AS. līcian, gelīcian, fr. gelīc. See Like, a. ] 1. To suit; to please; to be agreeable to. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Cornwall him liked best, therefore he chose there. R. of Gloucester. [ 1913 Webster ]

I willingly confess that it likes me much better when I find virtue in a fair lodging than when I am bound to seek it in an ill-favored creature. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be pleased with in a moderate degree; to approve; to take satisfaction in; to enjoy. [ 1913 Webster ]

He proceeded from looking to liking, and from liking to loving. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To liken; to compare. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Like me to the peasant boys of France. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 like well, and bear your years very well. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly; as, he liked to have been too late. Cf. Had like, under Like, a. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He probably got his death, as he liked to have done two years ago, by viewing the troops for the expedition from the wall of Kensington Garden. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

To like of, to be pleased with. [ Obs. ] Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Likable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Likelihood. [ Obs. ] South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Likely + -hood. ] 1. Appearance; show; sign; expression. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

What of his heart perceive you in his face
By any likelihood he showed to-day ? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Likeness; resemblance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no likelihood between pure light and black darkness, or between righteousness and reprobation. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Appearance of truth or reality; probability; verisimilitude. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Statistical probability; probability of being true or of occurring in the future; as, the likelihood of being abducted by aliens is close to zero.. [ PJC ]

n. 1. Likelihood; probability. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Suitableness; agreeableness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Likelier superl. Likeliest. ] [ That is, like-like. See Like, a. ] 1. Worthy of belief; probable; credible; as, a likely story. [ 1913 Webster ]

It seems likely that he was in hope of being busy and conspicuous. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having probability; having or giving reason to expect; -- followed by the infinitive; as, it is likely to rain. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Similar; like; alike. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Such as suits; good-looking; pleasing; agreeable; handsome. Shak. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Having such qualities as make success probable; well adapted to the place; promising; as, a likely young man; a likely servant. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Improbable; unlikely; -- used ironically; as, a likely story. [ informal ] [ PJC ]