Where does “nightmarelike” come from?

nightmarelike (English) comes from English like, from Dutch luik, from Middle Dutch luke, from Dutch luiken, from Middle Dutch luken, from Old Dutch lūcan, from Proto-West Germanic lūkan, from Proto-Germanic lūkaną — to break, tear; to break, shatter.

nightmarelike (English): Resembling or characteristic of a nightmare;...

Definitions

  1. Resembling or characteristic of a nightmare;...

Ancestry of “nightmarelike”, step by step

nightmarelike traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English like

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlikeTo enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of;...
2Dutchluikhatch; shutter; panel, as in a triptych
3Middle Dutchluke
4Dutchluikento close, to shut
5Middle Dutchlukento close, to shut; to close, to become closed
6Old Dutchlūcanto close, shut
7Proto-West Germaniclūkanto close, to shut
8Proto-Germaniclūkanąto close, to shut; Alternative form of *leukaną
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlewǵ-to break, tear; to break, shatter

via English nightmare

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnightmareA demon or monster, thought to plague people...
2EnglishnightThe period between sunset and sunrise, when a...
3Middle EnglishnyghtAlternative form of nighte; Alternative form of...
4Middle Englishnightenight
5Old EnglishnyhtAlternative form of niht
6Proto-West Germanicnahtnight
7Proto-Germanicnahtsnight
8Proto-Indo-Europeannókʷtsnight
9Proto-Indo-Europeannegʷ-bare, naked
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewǵ-
nightmarelike — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer