catlike en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈkætlaɪk/ (General-American)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *kattuz Proto-West Germanic *kattu Old English catt Middle English cat English cat Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-West Germanic *-līk Old English -līċ Middle English -like English -like English catlike From cat + -like.
Meanings
- Resembling a cat; feline.
- Nimble, quick, graceful.
-
Slow, deliberate, quiet and stealthy.
With cat-like tread, Upon our prey we steal; In silence dread, Our cautious way we feel.
1879, W. S. Gilbert, The Pirates of Penzance, Act II:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more catlike | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most catlike | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
catlikeness · noncatlike · uncatlike
Synonyms
catty (resembling a cat) · sneaky · feline (resembling a cat) · agile (nimble and quick) · slinky (quiet and stealthy) · catly · light-footed (nimble and quick)
Translations (15)
sv kattaktig (resembling a cat) · pl koci (resembling a cat) · it gattesco (resembling a cat) · cy fel cath (resembling a cat) · fr félin (resembling a cat) · sv kattlik (resembling a cat) · it felino (resembling a cat) · ga catúil (resembling a cat) · ca felí (resembling a cat) · io katala (resembling a cat) · de katzenhaft (resembling a cat) · cy cathaidd (resembling a cat) · ru котообразный (resembling a cat) · fi kissamainen (resembling a cat) · es gatuno (resembling a cat)