semblance

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English semblaunce, from Old French semblance, from semblant, present participle of sembler.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈsɛm.bləns/
  • (file)

Noun

semblance (countable and uncountable, plural semblances)

  1. likeness, similarity; the quality of being similar.
  2. the way something looks; appearance; form
    • 1826, [Mary Shelley], chapter I, in The Last Man. , volume I, London: Henry Colburn, , →OCLC, page 2:
      England, seated far north in the turbid sea, now visits my dreams in the semblance of a vast and well-manned ship, which mastered the winds and rode proudly over the waves.

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “semblance”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Further reading