likeness

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things

   The twins had a likeness like no other I had ever seen.

2. 2
   noun

   The state or quality of being like or alike.

   I bear no likeness to my parents whatsoever.

3. 3
   noun

   Appearance or form; guise.

   A foe in the likeness of a friend

4. 4
   noun

   That which closely resembles; a portrait.

   How he looked, the likenesses of him which still remain enable us to imagine.

5. 5
   verb

   To depict.

   I have this morning received the photographs of my two boys. The eldest is very well likenessed: the other, perhaps, not so well.

6. 6
   noun

   picture consisting of a graphic image of a person or thing

Etymology

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”).