English → Latin
“like” in Latin
similissimilar to, like, resembling, of the same kind, the same ascōnsimilisalike, very similarassimilissimilar, likedissimilisunlike, dissimilar, differentgeminustwinborn, twin; double, paired, two, twofold, both, half-and-half; resembling, similar, likepropiornearer, closer; later (more recent)propenear, nearby, nigh, close; close in time; almost, nearlypāreven (of a number); equal; likereddōto give back, return, restore; to give up, hand over, deliver, render, provide, assign; to surrender, relinquish, delivereferōto bear, bring, drive, or carry back, off, or away; to give back, give up, return, restore, pay back, repay, render, pay
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
like adj.
Resembling, similis, consimilis, assimilis, opposed to dissimilis (with the genitive and dative, whether of internal or external resemblance; but with reference to internal resemblance, the genitive is most common; Vid: Zumpt, § 411): geminus (extremely like, quite a match). (The words are found in this connection and order.) similis et geminus: more like, propior (that comes nearer): very like, proximus (e.g., Deo proximus); exactly like, geminus et simillimus (in a thing, aliqua re); simillimus et maxime geminus: not like [Vid: UNLIKE]: to be like, similem esse (with a genitive or dative; Vid: above); ad similitudinem alicujus rei accedere (to come near; of things; for which we find, also, prope, propius (nearer), and proxime (nearest) accedere ad aliquid (generally); facie alicujus similem esse, os vultumque alicujus referre (in features, etc.); mores alicujus referre (in character): to make or render like, ad similitudinem rei fingere, effingere aliquid; assimilare aliquid in speciem alicujus rei (Tac., Germ., 9, 4): to become like a person in any respect, ex aliqua re similitudinem speciemque alicujus gerere: he looks very like his father, mira similitudine totum patrem exscripsit: as like as two peas, non ovum tam simile ovo, quam hic illi est (Vid: Quint., 5, 11, 30); or, ex puteo similior nunquam potest aqua aquae sumi, quam hic est atque iste (Plaut., Mil., 2, 6, 70); or, neque aqua aquae, lac est lacti usquam similius, quam hic illius est, illeque hujus (Plaut., Men., 5, 9, 30): he is no longer like himself, prorsus alius factus est ac fuit antea: that is like him, hoc dignum est illo, non abhorret ab ejus ingenio, non alienum est ab ejus moribus.
Equal [Vid: EQUAL].
Likely, Vid: LIKELY.
like s.
par: to give like for like, par pari referre; reddere, referre; exsolvere vicem or vices: one who has not his like, cui nullum invenias parem; (vir) incomparabilis (Plin.).
like adv.
In the same manner as, ut: sicut: velut [SYN. in AS]. To behave like a man, se virum praebere: virum inter viros esse (Cic.): to quit themselves like men, strenue pugnare: to bear pain like a man, dolorem ferre, ut vir (like a brave man).
Probably, Vid: In “he was like to have been (drowned,” etc.), which Middleton uses without hesitation, turn it by “he was nearly,” etc. Vid: NEARLY.
like v.
TRANS., Have a liking for, amare: diligere: amplecti [Vid: FOND].
INTR., libet or collibet alicui (one has a desire or inclination): placet alicui (it pleases, one finds it good): juvat aliquem (it delights; all sometimes followed by an infinitive, placet also by ut): I liked it, mihi libitum, or collibitum, or placitum est: as much as one likes, quantum juvat, libet, libuerit, collibuerit: to do as anyone likes, animo suo morem gerere: if you (I, he, etc.) likes, si placet, libet, commodum est; cum, or quando, or dum commodum est: as you like, ut placet, libet, commodum est: if you like, quod commodo tuo fiat; nisi tibi molestum est: we may believe it or not, as we like, quam vera (res) sit, communis existimatio est (Liv.).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for like?
- The usual Latin words for “like” are similis, cōnsimilis, assimilis; also dissimilis, geminus, propior. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.