Where does “alike” come from?

Alike derives from Middle English alike, from Old English onlīc meaning "of one form or body," composed of on "one" and līc "form" or "body."

alike (English): Having resemblance or similitude; similar;...

Definitions

  1. Having resemblance or similitude; similar;...

Ancestry of “alike”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishylichalike, similar (+ dative or to: similar to, like)
2Old Englishġelīclike, similar; like, alike, similar, equal,...
3Proto-West Germanicgalīkalike, similar
4Proto-Germanicgalīkazalike, similar; equal
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleyǵ-to bind, tie

Words derived from “alike”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic galīkaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic galīk →