a. and sb. Obs. Forms: α. 1 ʓelic, 2 ȝelic(h), 2–5 ilich(e, ylych(e, 3–5 ylich(e, 4 ileche, 4–5 yleche, ilyche. β. 2–5 ilik(e, 3–5 ilyke, 4 ylik, ilek, 4–5 ylyk(e, illike, ylike. [OE. ʓelíc: see Y- 1 b and LIKE a. Represented now by ALIKE, q.v.; see also INLIKE.]
A. adj. 1. Like, similar (const. dat. or to).
a. 900. Cynewulf, Juliana, 549. Ic ær ne sið æniʓ ne mette in woruldrice wiþ þe ʓelic.
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. xix. (1890), 322. [Se lichoma] wæs slæpendum men ʓelicra þonne deadum.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 109. Þe alde mon þe bið butan treowscipe bið iliche þan treo þe bereð lef and blosman and nane westmas ne bereð.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 9. Ic scal bien ȝelich ðan heisten [orig. ero similis altissimo].
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 200. Hwose haueð eni unðeau of þeo þet ich er nemde, oðer ham iliche.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 792. Ȝe ben to þe helle-hond holliche i-like.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2336. A semede þe diuel ileche.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secr. Secr., xxii. 149. None afore the hath be y-lyke the, ne aftyre the shall come.
c. 1474. Caxton, Recuyell (1894), 321. A geant named Cerberus ynowh ylyke vnto pluto of condicions.
2. Of a number of things: Like one another; alike; equal. Ever ylike: always the same.
Beowulf, 2164. Feower mearas … ʓelice.
c. 980–c. 1060. Laws of Æthelred, VI. lii. (Liebermann), 258. Se maʓa & se unmaʓa ne beoð na ʓelice, ne ne maʓon na ʓelice byrþene ahebban.
a. 1240. Ureisin, in O. E. Hom., I. 203. Þet naueþ nouðer ende ne biginnunge þet is euer iliche wiðute sturiunge.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 355. Þinges þat beeth i-liche [MS. γ buþ ylyche] acordeþ to gidres.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., I. § 17. Than ben the daies & the nyhtes illike of lenghthe in al the world.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 399. Thre waxe-candels he let make þen, Euery candelle y-leyche of weyȝt.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secr. Secr., xxiii. 151. Yestyrday he hadd frendys Speciall, but to-day he haue ham all y-lyke.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, IV. xi. (1558), 103. Fortunes gyftes be nat aye ylyche.
3. Fitting, suitable. (Cf. LIKE a. 6 a.)
c. 1205. Lay., 15117. Nusten heo an world-riche ræd þat heom weore ilike.
B. sb. 1. (One’s) like, equal, counterpart.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., xx. 37. Nan þing nis þin ʓelica.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 151. Iob wes … swa godmon þet ure drihten … seide þet under houene ne nan his ilike.
c. 1205. Lay., 25378. Nes þer na king his ilike.
c. 1305. Judas, 66, in E. E. P. (1862), 109. Ech þing loueþ his iliche.
2. Outward appearance, likeness, semblance; concr. an image, ‘likeness.’
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1843. Crist … þurh his ahne engel i culurene iliche, fedde hire.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 136. Loke þet tu habbe his iliche, þer is þet crucifix.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 305. In hornes ilike Þu schalt hure biswike.
c. 1315. Shoreham, VII. 883. Ase mannes ylyche ymad of tre May nauȝt be al ase man may be … Ne godes ylyche, man, y-wys Ne may nauȝt be al ase god ys.
