Forms: 3–4 un-, vnlich, 4 -liche (-lichy, 5 onliche), -leche; 3 unnlic, 4 vnlic, -lijc, 4–5 vnlyk, 5–6 vnlyke (6 -leke), 3– unlike. [ME. unlīch(e, unlīk(e (UN-1 7.), corresponding to OE. unʓelíc UNILICHE a. Cf. OFris. (NFris.) unlik, obs. Du. onlijk, MLG. (LG.) unlîk, ON. úlíkr (Icel. ólíkur, MSw. oliker, olika, Sw. olik, olika, MDa. ulig, ulige, Da. and Norw. ulig, Norw. ulik).]
1. Not like or resembling, different from, dissimilar to (some other person or thing).
c. 1200. Ormin, 16859. Forr all þatt follc let tatt he wass Unnlic all oþerr lede.
a. 1225. Juliana, 14. Ich am iweddet to an … þe is unlich him.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 64. He was unlich alle othre there.
1553. Ascham, Germany, ¶ 14. He thought it his most honor to be vnlykest such for his gentlenes, which were misliked … for their crueltie.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. ix. 56. How much [thou art] vnlike my hopes and my deseruings!
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 183. [The banana] giues a most delicious … rellish, not much vnlike our choicest Peares.
1676. Glanvill, Ess., vi. 30. Those, whose Genius and Ways are so unlike him.
1725. Pope, Odyss., IX. 221. A form enormous! far unlike the race Of human birth, in stature.
1750. trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, 112. Some jaspers are not much unlike red porphyry.
1819. Jas. Mill, Hum. Mind (1869), II. 252. As unlike to any of those … as the sensation of white is unlike the sensations of the seven prismatic colours.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 401. The philosopher has notions of good and evil unlike those of other men.
b. Const. to; also (quot. 1873) from.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 271. Oure lif & oure lawe vnlich is to ȝoure.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6360. Vnlyk is my word to my dede.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, 224. How vnlyke worldely worshyp is vnto gostly ioye.
1531. Elyot, Gov., II. xiv. This maner of flatery is mooste unlyke to that whiche is communely used.
1556. Olde, Antichrist, 116 b. Two heades…, farre unlyke the one to the other.
1670. Baxter, Cure Ch. Div., 238. You would shew yourselves much … unliker to Satan the accuser.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xiv. Their very saints are unlike to the saints of any Christian country.
1873. Pater, Stud. Hist. Renaiss., 80. They were of a spirit as unlike as possible from that of Lorenzo.
1876. Gladstone, Glean. (1879), II. 271. He was very unlike to any other man.
2. Not like each other; different, dissimilar.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1726. Ðoȝ him boren ðes ones bles Vnlike maniȝe and likeles.
c. 1380. Antichrist, in Todd, Three Treat. Wyclif (1851), 150. Loke Cristis copborde, and hers; and þei ben ful unlichy.
1565. Stapleton, trans. Bede’s Hist. Ch. Eng., 25b. The parties there wer farre vnleke of condition.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xxiii. § 29. The unlikest in the worlde; the one being fierce…; the other solemn.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., I. iv. 13. There can be no possible imitation of Lording over their brethren in regard of their persons altogether unlike.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. s.v., Unlike Quantities and Signs in Algebra.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., II. 283. How fair these names, how much unlike they look.
1842. Francis, Dict. Arts, Unlike quantities, in algebra, are such as are expressed by different letters, or different roots or powers of the same letter.
1889. Gretton, Memory’s Harkb., 125. We may take together two other Judges,… as unlike as the bear and the innate gentleman.
absol. 1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., II. v. This approximation ofthe Like and Unlike. Ibid. In this case of the Like-Unlike.
b. sb. pl. Dissimilar things or persons.
1612. W. Sclater, Sick Souls Salve, 1. He amplifies it in a comparison of unlikes. Ibid. (a. 1626), Comm. Malachy (1650), 66. It is handled in a plenary comparison of unlikes.
1857. J. Pulsford, Quiet Hours, 43. Like can reach like, and act upon it, in a way that unlikes cannot.
3. † a. Differing from others of the kind; incomparable; unusual. Obs.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 275. Bot certes such usure upliche It falleth more unto the riche.
14[?]. R. Gloucester’s Chron. (MS. Digby 205), fol. 26. He was in his lyue euer ryȝt ryche Of richesse before al oþer he was vnliche.
b. Differing from, dissimilar to, the thing or person in question. Also absol.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. vi. (1868), 138. Ne it ne is nat an vnlyke miracle to hem þat ne knowen it nat.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 5. Nor a muche vnlyke aunswere dyd Wylliam, late archebishop of Canterbury,… gyue vnto me.
1595. Daniel, Civ. Wars, V. lxxxii. He saw prepard, against his side, Both vnlike fortune, and vnequall force.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 517. Part hidd’n veins diggd up (nor hath this Earth Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone.
1847. Helps, Friends in C., Ser. I. I. ix. 166. Not only like likes like, but unlike likes unlike.
1865. Swinburne, Atalanta, 620. A god Faultless; whom I that love not, being unlike, Fear, and give honour.
1877. E. R. Conder, Bas. Faith, ii. 81. Awaiting the presence of unlike atoms to call them forth in turn.
c. sb. A person differing from another or others.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 1099. Her is … min vnliche, Brademond king, þat is so riche. [Cf. UNILICHE sb.]
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 219. The just does not desire more than his like but more than his unlike.
1896. Pop. Sci. Monthly, Feb., 494. As long as it remains a stranger and an unlike.
4. Presenting points of difference or dissimilarity; not uniform or even; unequal.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 7917 (Fairf.). Þer was wonande þat was vn-like ij men a pouer and a rike.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 289. Þere was unleche noumbre of array of knyȝtes, for aȝenst an hondred … come a þowsand.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xxvi. 7. Whan an vnlike pare of oxen must drawe together.
c. 1550. H. Lloyd, Treasury of Health, b 5. If the water do appeare vnlike of substance.
1642. J. Eaton, Honey-c. Free Justif., 261. That unlike likenesse betweene Adam and Christ, which the Apostle speaks of, Rom. 5.
1645. Milton, Tetrach., 9. Where the different sexe in most resembling unlikenes, and most unlike resemblance, cannot but please best.
5. Unlikely, improbable. Now dial. or arch.
a. With subordinate clause.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 565. The perlouse pointtes þat passe you behoues, Hit is vnlike any lede with his liffe pas.
1400–10. Clanvowe, Cuckow & Night., ix. Hit is vnlyk for to be That eny herte shulde slepy be [etc.].
1535. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 413. It is not vnlike but that the saide Duke hathe ben deceyued.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1663), 235. Neither is it unlike, but that these circumstances might be.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, Vives’ Comm., VIII. xi. 317. It is vnlike that so sharpe a wit … found not the difference and multitude of things.
1729. T. Innes, Crit. Essay (1879), 230. In process of time … it is not unlike there might come … new colonies from Spain.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, III. 401. Whether so [it is] not unlike Heaven might vouchsafe its gracious miracle.
a. 1905. in Eng. Dial. Dict. (Yks., Warw.).
b. With inf.
1400–10. [see a].
1538. Henry VIII., in Wyatt’s Wks. (1816), II. 498. Unjust … demands, and unlike to proceed out of a willing heart to conclude.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., III. xviii. 54. Being through age unlike to live one whole yeare.
1626. in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 286. He thought the Match very unlike to be effected.
1655. Earl Orrery, Parthen., I. I. 26. This Arabian was not altogether unlike to escape unpunished.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., I. iii. 168. Blessings, that I do not so much as know of, and which consequently I am very unlike particularly to acknowledge.
† c. Without likelihood of something. Obs.–1
1559. Mirr. Mag., Fall R. Tresilian, xiv. Thus all went to wracke vnlyke of remedie.
