Etymologically
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unlike

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ʌnˈlaɪk/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English unlik,[2] formed from un- “not” and like.[3][2] Its early spread in northern and eastern areas suggests that it was first an adaptation of Old Norse úlíkr,[4][5][6] corresponding to Old English unġelīc,[4][5] and similar words exist in Old Frisian unlik and German ungleich.[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Not resembling, different from: about 1200 in the OED and Etymonline.[7][3]

Semantic evolution

Not like each other is from about 1250,[7] and unequal or not uniform from about 1375.[7] The adverb meant “unevenly, unequally” in the mid-14th century, now obsolete,[3][7] and “differently” from the early 15th century.[3] The preposition, different from, is from about 1592 in Merriam-Webster,[2] and the conjunction, not in the same way as, from the late 20th century.[6] A verb unlike, “to cease to like”, is from 1761, earlier “to displease” (late 13th century).[3] In Yorkshire and Warwickshire dialect it meant “unlikely”.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 1200 – not resembling.[7][3]
  • c. 1250 – not like each other.[7]
  • mid-14th century – adverb, unequally.[3]
  • c. 1592 – preposition.[2]
  • 1761 – verb, to cease to like.[3]

Modern meaning

Preposition

  1. Different from; not like: unlike his brother, he is shy.
  2. Not typical of: it's unlike her to be late.

Adjective

  1. Not alike; different.
  2. Not equal, as in amount.

Word family

  • unlikeness
  • like
  • unlikely
  • alike

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)