Forms as those of LIKELY a. + 4–6 -hode, 5–6 -hod, 6– -hood. Also 5 lykeleod, 6 lightliwode, likeloode, lykelhood. [f. LIKELY a. + -HOOD.]
† 1. Likeness; resemblance; similarity. Also an instance of this; a semblance, similitude. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., I. (1495), 3. Parables & semblaunces or liklihodes of thynges naturelles and artyfycyelles.
1548. Gest, Pr. Masse, B iiij. Sacramentes (sayth Augustin) vnlesse they haue certayne lykelyhode wyth the thynges wherof they be sygnes, they be no sacramentes at al.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 11. It is called Iris for likeloode to the Rainebow.
a. 1591. R. Greenham, Serm., i. (1599), 96. Thus wee see what likelihood there is betweene the spirit and fire.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, I. (1634), 23. There is no likelihood between pure light and black darkness.
1642. J. Ball, Answ. Canne, ii. 9. It hath too much likelihood to the masse-book.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 200/1. Fables [are] Tales of Untruth, yet have a likelyhood of Truth.
2. The quality or fact of being likely or probable; probability; an instance of this. Const. of; † occas. to with inf. † To take likelihood: to infer as a probability.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xiv. 78. Principlis openest in probabilitie or likelihode to treuthis.
1472–3. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 54/1. Seyng … theym selfe in likelyhode to be endamaged.
1488. Paston Lett., III. 344. They sey [= saw] no lykeleod that they schuld have lycens.
1509. Fisher, Funeral Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. (1876), 309. Who may not nowe take euydent lyklyhode & coniecture vpon this, that [etc.].
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 14. The prince may pardon the offender, if there appeere likelyhoode of amendment in him.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 2. Neither is there any likelihood, that [etc.].
1630. J. Levett, Ord. Bees (1634), 38. In May or June … there is no great likelihood of a second or third swarm.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 9. Hearing of the likelyhood of my removal.
1717. Entertainer, No. 7 (1718), 39. The State may be in great Likelihood to suffer Shipwreck.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 67, ¶ 6. There was a likelihood of rain.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), II. ix. 397. That he really might be too late appeared an immediate likelihood.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. v. 301. The story has strong internal likelihood in its favour.
b. In phrases (mostly obsolete) † by likelihood, † by all or most likelihood, † in, in all likelihood, † of likelihood: in all probability, probably.
1433. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 423/1. Ye which had ellys by liklyhode be lost.
1486. C’tess Oxford, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 7. To the entente by alle lykelyhod, to finde the waies and meanes to gete shipping.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 5 § 1. Every quinzime … of liklyhode shalbe gretly mynysshed and lessed.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clxviii. [clxiv.] 270. Their speres grated nat; if they had, by moost lykelhod they had taken hurte.
1585. Abp. Sandys, Serm., xvi. 287. The eldest, & therefore by likelyhoode the discreetest seruant of his house.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. i. 238. Then I can lay it downe in likelihood.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 121. Who of likelihood … was possessed … with so affectionate an opinion of his brothers aduancement, that [etc.].
1631. Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 812. It hath no Inscription, but in likelyhood it is the Tombe of Sir Roger.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., III. 189. In all likelihood, he that made this great Automaton of the world, will not destroy it, till [etc.].
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. 95. By all likelihood these ridges of Mountains do run in a continued Chain from one end of Peru and Chili to the other.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), I. 259. Oliver … was in all likelyhood of French extraction.
1862. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 102. In all likelihood we will go home together on Monday.
c. The likelihood: the probable fact, or the probable amount. Obs. exc. Sc.
1455. Rolls of Parlt., V. 287/1. The lyklyhode of the costes and expenses … weyed and considered.
1542–5. Brinklow, Lament. (1874), 85. Yea & yet knowe not you whether they heare you or not, as the likelyhode is they do not.
Mod. Sc. The likelihood is I’ll not be able to go.
† 3. Something that is likely, a probability; hence, a ground of probable inference, an indication, sign. Frequent in pl. Obs.
1541. Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 21 § 1. The likelihoodes and apparances being so far contrarie to that, which … is nowe founde true.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, 23. If there be two [dewclaws] it is an euill likelyhoode.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., V. ii. 43. These likelihoods confirme her flight from hence.
1601. Sir W. Cornwallis, Disc. Seneca (1631), 63. Man cannot divine what end followeth beginning, the nearest is a likelyhood.
1611. Speed, Theat. Gt. Brit., xliii. (1614), 85/2. Which … by high-wayes paved leading unto it, and other likelihoods, seems to have beene a worke of the Romanes.
a. 1641. Suckling, Lett. (1646), 64. Thrusting upon your judgment impossibilities for likelyhoods.
1649. Milton, Eikon., 119. Against which testimonies, likelyhoods, evidences, the bare denyall of one man cannot countervaile.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. xxiii. (1674), 24. This last is a suspition grounded only upon likelihoods.
4. The quality of offering a prospect of success; ‘promise.’ Now only as an echo of Shakespeare.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. ii. 45. A fellow of no marke, nor likelyhood.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, VI. 31. Amongst all the … Captaines … there was none of greater likelihood.
1818. Lamb, Lett., xi. 104. There are actresses of greater merit and likelihood than you.
1847. L. Hunt, Men, Women, & B., II. x. 232. An individual of no mark or likelihood.
