Definition of LIKENESS

likeness

Plural: likenesses

Noun

  • A pictorial representation; a semblance or similarity.
  • similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things
    • "man created God in his own likeness"
  • picture consisting of a graphic image of a person or thing
  • The state or quality of being like or alike.
  • Appearance or form; guise.
  • That which closely resembles; a portrait.

Verb

  • consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous
  • To depict.

Examples

  • A foe in the likeness of a friend
  • How he looked, the likenesses of him which still remain enable us to imagine.
  • I bear no likeness to my parents whatsoever.
  • The LIKENESS between his Words With Friends strategy and mine was uncanny.

Origin / 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”).

Scrabble Score: 12

likeness: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
likeness: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
likeness: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

likeness: valid Words With Friends Word