The compound adjective "stone-like" is a transparent modern English formation following a classic Germanic pattern for creating descriptive terms. The first element, "stone," descends from the Proto-Germanic stainaz, a foundational term for rock or stone. The second element, "-like," originates from the Old English noun līc, meaning "body" or "form," which evolved into a prolific adjectival suffix denoting resemblance. The logic of the word is perfectly literal: it combines the concrete noun for a hard, mineral material with a suffix meaning "having the form of," directly yielding the modern sense of possessing the qualities of stone.

Structure: stone (rock) + like (resembling) - stone: From Old English stān (rock, stone), of Germanic origin; functions as the base noun denoting the material. - like: From Old English līc (body, form) via the suffix -līc (having the form of), of Germanic origin; functions as an adjective-forming suffix meaning "similar to".