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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Lik-,) Lykin, Likkin, v. Also: lykyn, likkyn, -en; likn-, lykn-, lickn-; liken-, lyken-, likyn-, lykyn-. [ME. lyken (1303), liken (14th c.), li(c)kne, lykn-, lick- (15th c.), lycken, f. Like a.: cf. MLG. lîkenen, Sw. likna, etc.]

1. tr. To liken or compare (one person or thing to or till another or const. dative). 1375 Barb. iii. 73.
The quhethir he mycht, mar manerlik, Lyknyt hym to Gaudifer de Larys a1400 Leg. S. vi. 473.
Lyknand that word in his prechinge To foure maner of sere thing Ib. xxxiv. 175. ?1438 Alex. ii. 1779.
I lykken him to the gods all Ib. 4615.
Ane hurching … That men micht lykin … To tempest that fra the cluddis fell c1460 Wisd. Sol. 102.
Lyknand the wysman to the leiche a1500 Henr. Fab. 1110; etc.
This uolf I likkin to sensualitie

b. In the passive: To be likened or compared to; hence, to be comparable with, to resemble in some respect, to be like.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 396.
Till gud Ector of Troy mycht he In mony thingis liknyt be Ib. xi. 367, xiv. 314. ?1438 Alex. ii. 1774.
To engens his armes ar likned [F. semblent] weill 1456 Hay I. 267/6.
The quhilk campiouns ar lyknyt in bataill of barrieris as procuratouris ar in pledis Ib. II. 128/32.
[Spring] is lyknit to the ayre [F. semble àlair] for caus that it is hate and moiste Ib. I. 5/2, 12/11, II. 31/16, 47/9, 157/33, etc. c1460 Wisd. Sol. 452; a1500 Colk. Sow Proh. 41.
A bakbytar may be lyknit till an eddyr 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 126.
[Temperate love] may be lyknyt [Bann. licknit] to ane hail mannis estait 1579 Black Bk. Taymouth 144.
God set his bow in the air … quhilk is liknyt to tua domis 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. 4b.
Thair may no thing be Lykned to ane trew kyndlie freinde(b) a1450 Fifteen Ois 78.
O Jesu, … na sorrow mycht likynnit be To thi sorrow 1456 Hay I. 12/14.
The sparow … sa may it be likenyt till a man that levis the way of veritee Ib. 27/20, 28/2, etc. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 56/28.
Paciens … in that he is likynnit to his fadere of hevin a1500 Bk. Chess 632.
A king but letteris lykynnit is in deid Vnto a crovnit as

2. a. Appar., To take as like or equal to; hence, in the gerundial infin., = to be equated with, equalling, amounting to. c1420 Wynt. viii. 1751.
Thre hundyre speris to lykyn [C. likkyn] or ma Off Fyffe

b. To appear likely or seem to be about, and c. To believe or represent as likely or about (to do something).Cf. Like a. A 4. 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xxxiv.
Bot ay the tempest did acres, And na wais lykin to grow les, Bot rather to be mair 1596–7 Cal. Sc. P. XII. 500.
[The new Lord Treasurer by a fall that he got] short syne [is daily] lickned [to die]