Etymology Explorer › English

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 Englishylich—
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”

  • lookalike
  • unalike
  • alikeness
  • soundalike
  • workalike
  • unalikeness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyǵ- →