doll-like

The word 'doll' originated in the 16th century as a pet form of the female name Dorothy. Over time, it generalized to refer to a child's toy modeled on a human figure. The suffix '-like' is a native English element from Old English līc, meaning 'body' or 'form', which evolved into a productive suffix for creating adjectives denoting resemblance. The compound 'doll-like' is a transparent modern formation, directly combining the core noun with the adjectival suffix to describe anything—typically a person's appearance or manner—that evokes the stylized, often idealized and inanimate qualities of a toy doll.

Structure: doll (a child's toy figure) + like (having the characteristics of) doll: Origin: English (from the personal name Dorothy). Role: The core noun, providing the object of comparison. like: Origin: Old English (līc 'body, form'). Role: A suffix forming adjectives meaning 'similar to' or 'characteristic of'.