'T is as like you As cherry is to cherry. --Shak.
Like master, like man. --Old Prov.
He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the
hoar-frost like ashes. --Ps. cxlvii.
16.
Note: To, which formerly often followed like, is now usually
omitted.
2. Equal, or nearly equal; as, fields of like extent.
More clergymen were impoverished by the late war
than ever in the like space before. --Sprat.
3. Having probability; affording probability; probable;
likely.
Usage: [Likely is more used now.] --Shak.
But it is like the jolly world about us will
scoff at the paradox of these practices.
--South.
Many were not easy to be governed, nor like to
conform themselves to strict rules. --Clarendon.
4. Inclined toward; disposed to; as, to feel like taking a
walk.
{Had like} (followed by the infinitive), had nearly; came
little short of.
Had like to have been my utter overthrow. --Sir W.
Raleigh
Ramona had like to have said the literal truth, . .
. but recollected herself in time. --Mrs. H. H.
Jackson.
{Like figures} (Geom.), similar figures.
Note: 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.