noun pl. analogies
- similarity in some respects between things otherwise unlike; partial resemblance
- the likening of one thing to another on the basis of some similarity between the two
- Biol. similarity in function between parts dissimilar in origin and structure, as the wing of a bird and that of an insect
- Linguis. the process by which words, constructions, or pronunciations conform to the pattern of other, often unrelated, ones: “energize” is formed from “energy” by analogy with “apologize” from “apology”; Old English “handa” became “hands” on analogy with other plurals in -s
- Logic an inference from certain admitted resemblances between two or more things to a probable further similarity between them
Origin:
ME & OFr analogie < L analogia < Gr, proportion < analogos, in due ratio < ana-, according to + logos, word, reckoning: see logic