/ˈlaɪk(ə)n/, /ˈlaɪkən/
OriginFrom Middle English liknen (“to be comparable; to compare (often disparagingly); to make (someone) equal to another person; to regard (something) as equal to another thing; to regard (something) as likely; to resemble; to take (something) as a substitute; to apply, be adapted or suitable; to tend (to sin)”) [and other forms], from liken (“to be comparable; to compare; to be appropriate; to form”), from lik (“alike, analogous, similar; appropriate, suitable; equal; homogeneous; identical, the same; indicative; likely (to be or do something), probable; possible; simultaneous; more or most like (?)”) + -en (suffix forming infinitives of verbs). Lik is derived from Old English ġelīċ (“like, similar”), from Proto-Germanic *galīkaz (“like, similar; equal”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leyg- (“like, similar; even, level”). The English word is analysable as like (adjective) + -en (suffix forming verbs with the sense ‘to make [adjective]’).
- transitiveFollowed by to or (archaic) unto: to regard or state that (someone or something) is like another person or thing; to compare.
“The physics teacher likened the effect of mass on space to an indentation in a sheet of rubber.”
“And vvell may the preacher and plovvman be likened together: Firſt, for their labour in all ſeaſons of the year; for there is no time of the year in vvhich the ploughman hath not ſome ſpecial vvork to”
“In this ſaing S. Auguſtin likeneth the ſacramentes of the olde lavve in reſpect of the ſacramentes of the nevve lavve vnto childrens games, and our ſacramentes he likeneth to the thinges of more profe”
- also, rare, reflexive, transitiveChiefly followed by to: to make (oneself, someone, or something) resemble another person or thing.
“Speech is reason's brother, and a kingly prerogative of man, / That likeneth him to his Maker, who spake, and it was done.”
- rare, transitiveTo represent or symbolize (something).
- intransitive, obsoleteFollowed by to: to be like or resemble; also, to become like.
Formslikens(present, singular, third-person) · likening(participle, present) · likened(participle, past) · likened(past) · liken(infinitive) · liken(first-person, present, singular) · likened(first-person, past, singular) · liken(present, second-person, singular) · likenest(archaic, present, second-person, singular) · likened(past, second-person, singular) · likenedst(archaic, past, second-person, singular) · likeneth(archaic, present, singular, third-person) · likened(past, singular, third-person) · liken(plural, present) · likened(past, plural) · liken(present, subjunctive) · likened(past, subjunctive) · liken(imperative, present) · -(imperative, past)