v. Forms: 4 licne(n, (likkin), 4–5 li(c)kne, lykne(n, -nyn, 4–6 licken, -yn, 5 lycken, lykeny, lykyne, (leccon, legeny, lekyn, likon, -yn), 4–6 lyken, 4– liken. [f. LIKE a. + -EN5; cf. OHG. kî-lîhinôn (MHG. gelîchenen), MLG. lîkenen, Sw. likna, Da. ligne.]
1. trans. To represent as like; to compare. Const. † into, to, unto, with. Also to liken together.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4759. And to þe croys by gode skylle Ys þe harpe lykenede weyle.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 97. Þei may be wel licned to swolwis of þe see & helle.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 168. To a torche oþer to a taper the trinite is likened.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3095. It limps noȝt all-way þe last to licken with be first.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod. (Horstm.), 1128. Dowuys … ben legenyd to be holy gost.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg., 22. Loue y likne in-to a fier Þat slakeen may for no þing.
c. 1485. E. E. Misc. (Warton Club), 9. I leccone my lyfe unto the morrow-tyde.
1549. Latimer, Serm. Ploughers (Arb.), 19. Wel may the preacher and the ploughman be lykened together.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. i. 97. The Prince broke thy head for lik’ning him to a singing man of Windsor.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 573. By likening spiritual to corporal forms.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), II. l. 375. Every good servant, for the future, will be proud to be likened to honest Joseph Leman.
1751. Harris, Hermes, Wks. (1841), 147. The world has been likened to a variety of things.
1808. Southey, Lett. (1856), II. 90. You liken her to Henry.
1851. Carlyle, Sterling, I. i. (1872), 5. I likened him often … to sheet-lightning.
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 93. You must not liken her To your wild-eyed Aspasias.
† b. To make imputations on (a person). Obs. rare.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 42. Þo þat … Lickne men and lye on hem that leneth hem no ȝiftes. Ibid., 277. Lewed men may likne ȝow þus þat þe beem lithe in ȝowre eyghen.
† c. To liken (a person) to do (something): to represent as doing. Obs.
1520. Caxton’s Chron. Eng., I. 6/1. Athlas … ye whiche is lykened to bere up heven on his sholders.
† d. passive. To be assigned by repute to (a person) as a lover or a future husband or wife; also, to be reputed to be (so-and-so). Obs.
c. 1570. Durham Depos. (Surtees), 59. They haith bein likned to-gither more and 2 yere. Ibid. (1575), 304. He saith that the said Janet was never by any report lykned to any man for the getting of the said child, but only the said Robert…. The said Robert is lykened to be the father of the said child.
2. To make like. rare.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4350. To sett him in-to seruitute … Þat god has fourmed to be free & to his face licknud.
1483. Cath. Angl., 216/2. To make lyke (A. to Lykyne), assimilare, conformare.
1720. Duncan Fraser, in Evans, O. B. (1784), III. xvii. 172. I will liken her to a laidley worm, That warps about the stone.
1843. Ld. Brougham, Pol. Phil., I. v. 158 (Ogilvie), The occasional deviations from its fundamental principles in a free constitution, and the temporary introduction of arbitrary power, liken it to the worst despotisms.
† 3. intr. To be like, to resemble; also, to become like. Const. to or dative. Also trans. to symbolize, represent. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1064. If þou wyrkkes on þis wyse, þaȝ ho wyk were, Hir schal lyke þat layk þat lyknes hir tylle.
1340. Ayenb., 88. Þe more he him loueþ þe stranglaker, þe more he him likneþ propreliche.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 666. Þi fourme Is lickenand on na lym ne like to my selfe.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 11. The plater drawen oute of the donge likenithe [Fr. signifie] the soule in the bodi.
1809. Bianchi, Levity & Sorrow, I. 70. Her own conduct towards Braunau had much likened to coquetry. Ibid., II. 200. I once knew a lady … that likened surprisingly to you.
1838. Chalmers, On Rom., II. 87. We are daily likening unto Christ in superiority over the world.
Hence † Likener, one who likens.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 305/1. Lykenare, or he þat lykenythe.
