similarity
UK[ˌsɪməˈlærəti]US[ˌsɪməˈlærəti]
n
the state or fact of being like or similar to something else.
n
a feature or quality that things or people have that makes them like each other.
Morpheme Breakdown
simil
ar
ity
simil
like
ar
adjective suffix
ity
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'similarity' traces its lineage to the latin adjective similis, meaning 'like' or 'resembling'. this root itself is of uncertain origin, though it may be related to the proto-indo-european root sem-, meaning 'one, together', suggesting a coming together of likeness. the latin suffix -aris was added to form similaris, which passed into english as 'similar'. to form the abstract noun denoting the state of being alike, the latin noun-forming suffix -itas (english -ity) was appended, creating 'similarity'. thus, the word's construction logically builds from the core concept of likeness to the quality or state that embodies it.
Analysis
Structure: simil (like) + ar (adjective suffix) + ity (noun suffix)
simil (from latin similis, meaning 'like, resembling'), ar (a latin adjectival suffix), ity (a latin suffix forming abstract nouns indicating a state or condition).
Examples
there is a striking similarity between the two paintings.
the report noted several similarities in their approaches to the problem.
despite their different backgrounds, they found a lot of similarity in their views.