LIKE, a. [L., Heb., Gr. See Lick and Lickerish.]

1. Equal in quantity, quality or degree; as, a territory of like extent with another; men of like excellence. More clergymen were impoverished by the late war, than ever in the like space before. – Sprat.
2. Similar; resembling; having resemblance. Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are. James v. Why might not other planets, have been created for like uses with the earth, each for its own inhabitants. – Bentley. Like is usually followed by to but it is often omitted. What city is like to this great city? Rev. xviii. I saw three unclean spirits like frogs. Rev. xvi. Among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Dan. i.
3. Probable; likely, that is, having the resemblance or appearance of an event; giving reason to expect or believe. He is like to die of hunger in the place where he is, for there is no more bread. Jer. xxxviii. Many were not easy to be governed, not like to conform themselves to strict rules. – Clarendon.

1. In the same manner. Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matth. vi. Luke xii. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Ps. ciii.
2. In a manner becoming. Be strong, and quit yourselves like men. – Sam. iv.
3. Likely; probably; as, like enough it will. – Shak.

1. Some person or thing resembling another; an equal. The like may never happen again. He was a man, take him for all and all, / I shall not look upon his like again. – Shak.
2. Had like, in the phrase, “he had like to be defeated,” seems to be a corruption; but perhaps like here is used for resemblance or probability, and has the character of a noun. At any rate, as a phrase, it is authorized by good usage.

1. To be pleased; to choose. He may go or stay as he likes. – Locke.
2. To like of, to be pleased. [Obs.] – Knolls.

1. To be pleased with in a moderate degree; to approve. It expresses less than love and delight. We like a plan or design, when we approve of it as correct or beneficial. We like the character or conduct of a man when it comports with our view of rectitude. We like food that the taste relishes. We like whatever gives us pleasure. He proceeded from looking to liking, and from liking to loving. – Sidney.
2. To please; to be agreeable to. This desire being recommended to her majesty, it liked her to include the same within one entire lease. [Obs.] – Bacon.
3. To liken. [Obs.]

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.
   
   

   '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.

   * To, which formerly often followed like, is now usually omitted.

2. That which is equal or similar to another; the counterpart; an exact resemblance; a copy.
   
   

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

3. In a manner like that of; in a manner similar to; as, do not act like him.
   
   

   He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. Job xii. 25.

   * Like, as here used, is regarded by some grammarians as a preposition.

4. To suit; to please; to be agreeable to.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   Cornwall him liked best, therefore he chose there. R. of Gloucester.

   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.

5. To be pleased; to choose.
   
   

   He may either go or stay, as he best likes. Locke.

6. The stroke which equalizes the number of strokes played by the opposing player or side; as, to play the like.
7. 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.

8. A liking; a preference; inclination; -- usually in pl.; as, we all have likes and dislikes.
9. In a like or similar manner.
   
   
   Shak.

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

10. To be pleased with in a moderate degree; to approve; to take satisfaction in; to enjoy.
    
    

    He proceeded from looking to liking, and from liking to loving. Sir P. Sidney.

11. To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition).
    
    
    [Obs.]

    You like well, and bear your years very well. Shak.

12. Having probability; affording probability; probable; likely.
    
    
    [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.

13. Likely; probably.
    
    
    "Like enough it will." Shak.
14. To liken; to compare.
    
    
    [Obs.]

    Like me to the peasant boys of France. Shak.

15. 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.]

    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.

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

16. 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.

    * 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.