unalike
Meaning
Not alike or similar; different.
Structure
Usage
The two sisters are completely unalike in both personality and appearance.
Despite being twins, their opinions on the matter were strikingly unalike.
The artist's early and late works are so unalike that they seem to be by different people.
Etymology
The word "unalike" is a relatively modern English formation, constructed by applying the common Germanic negative prefix "un-" to the existing adjective "alike." "Alike" itself has deep Germanic roots, originating from Old English gelīc, where the prefix ge- denoted association and līc meant "body" or "form," thus conveying the sense of "having the same form." Over time, gelīc simplified to "like" and "alike," with "alike" specifically used predicatively. Therefore, "unalike" follows a transparent and logical compounding pattern, directly combining the concept of negation with the concept of similarity to explicitly denote difference or dissimilarity.
Analysis
- un: A prefix of Germanic (Old English) origin, meaning "not," used to form negatives. - alike: An adjective of Middle English origin, from Old English gelīc ("like, similar"), itself from the Germanic prefix ga- (associative or perfective) + līc ("body, form"). The functional role of "alike" is the core adjective meaning "similar."