alike

the word 'alike' originates from the old english 'gelīc', meaning 'similar' or 'having the same form'. this term is a compound of the prefix 'ge-', denoting association or completeness, and 'līc', meaning 'body' or 'form', thus literally 'having the same body'. over time, the prefix was reduced and eventually dropped in middle english, leaving 'like', while the prefixed form 'alike' (from 'onlīc', influenced by old norse 'álíkr') persisted with a distinct adjectival and adverbial function. the core semantic link from the ancient concept of 'same form' to the modern meanings of similarity in appearance or manner remains elegantly intact.

the word is a simplex form derived from old english. it is not productively formed from separable modern english morphemes.