ENGLISH
REFERENCE

likeness

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US //ˈɫaɪknəs// UK //lˈaɪknəs// like·ness Archaic

n. the quality of being similar to someone or something else. It can also mean a picture or statue that looks exactly like a person.

n. the state or quality of being alike; a pictorial or sculptural representation of a person. Often used in the context of physical resemblance between family members.


SIMPLE

The boy has a strong likeness to his father.

CONTEXTUAL

The museum recently acquired a bronze likeness of the former president, praised for its realistic detail.

COMPLEX

While the two sisters share a striking physical likeness, their temperaments are so diametrically opposed that one would hardly guess they were raised in the same household.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English liknesse, from Old English līcness, ġelīcnes (“the quality of being like or equal; likeness; image; copy; pattern; example; parable”), from Proto-West Germanic *galīkanassī (“likeness”), equivalent to like + -ness. Cognate with West Frisian likenis (“likeness”), Dutch gelijkenis (“similarity; likeness; parable”), German Low German Glieknis (“form; semblance; likeness; parable”), German Gleichnis (“form; semblance; image; likeness; parable; simile”). The verb is derived from the noun. Compare also Old Norse líkneskja (“figure, image, appearance, likeness”).

Usage

Often takes the preposition 'to' or 'between'.

Pitfall

the likeness with his brotherthe likeness to his brotherWhile 'similarity' often takes 'with', 'likeness' more naturally pairs with the preposition 'to'.

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