Forms: α. 1–2 ʓelíce, 2–5 iliche, 4–5 ilyche, 5 yliche, ylyche, ylich. β. 4–5 aliche, 5 eliche, alych(e, aleche. γ. 3–5 olike, olyke. δ. 4–5 ilike, ilyke, ylyke, 4–6 ylike. ε. 5–6 elyke, elike. ζ. 6 alyke, 6– alike. [Like the prec. represents two (or three) orig. words: 1. OE. ʓelíce adv., f. ʓelíc adj. 2. ON. álíka adv., f. álíkr adj., cogn. w. OE. anlíce, which may also itself be one of the sources of ME. aliche. Since 1500 alike has taken the place of all the ME. forms.] In like manner, in the same manner, in the same way, at the same rate, equally, similarly.
α. a. 1000. Blickl. Hom., 119. Ne wæron ðas ealle ʓelice lange.
c. 1175. Cotton Hom., 219. He geð of þe fader and of þe sune ȝelice.
c. 1175. Pater N., 60, in Lamb. Hom., 57. His name is hali and efre wes iliche swiðe.
c. 1300. St. Brand., 714. This frut is evere iliche ripe, and this lond iliche liȝt.
1369. Chaucer, Dethe of Bl., 9. Al is ylyche goode to me Joy or sorrowe wherso hyt be.
1485. Caxton, Trevisa’s Higden, I. xliv. (1527), 44. All these iii Ilondes, Wyght, Mon and Man ben almoost yliche moche and of lyke quantyte.
β. c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1477. Al aliche dresset.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 297. Ever in one aliche hot.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeless, I. 66. All eliche grette.
c. 1440. Morte Arth., 194. Seyne come þer sewes sere … Ownd of aȝure alle over and ardant þem semyde, Of ilke aleche þe lowe launschide fulle hye.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., lxxvii. 63. Al shold be alych hygh.
γ. c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2024. Al it was him olike loð.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 7560. Alle er þa noght olyke clere.
c. 1430. St. Katherine (Gibbs MS.), 47. Olyke endeles wyth his maker.
δ. 1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 436. Alle tymes y-like.
c. 1385. Chaucer, Leg. G. Wom., 57. And evene I-like fayr & fresch of hewe. Ibid., 731. And bothe in love I-lyke sore they brente.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Fysshynge, 13. Fasten theym in thee clyftes ylyke streyghte.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., March. My selfe will have a double eye, Ylike to my flocke and thine.
ε. a. 1400. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS., 51. The gud lady Meknes þat aye elyke makis hir selfe lowly.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 57. A bush I se burnand fulle bryght, And ever elyke the leyfes ar greyn.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. viii. 34. My fader … Reputis all elike.
ζ. 1535. Coverdale, Eccles. ix. 3. It happeneth vnto all alyke.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., I. vi. 148. A lady, that disdains Thee, and the devil alike.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 640. All seasons and thir change, all please alike.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 509, ¶ 9. To treat his customers all alike.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 81. Nature, a mother kind alike to all.
1824. Dibdin, Libr. Comp., 87. He would sacrifice alike logic and candour.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 194. The minister’s virtues and vices alike contributed to his ruin.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, ii. 18. By means which demoralised alike the givers and receivers.
Comb. † alike-minded a., of a like mind, like-minded.
1638. Sanderson, 21 Serm., Ad Aul. viii. (1673), 118. The strong agreed well enough among themselves, and were all alike-minded, and so the weak among themselves, all alike-minded too.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Rem., 82 (T.). I would to God … all our brethren of this land, were alike-minded.
