líkans

Líkans is an Icelandic noun that denotes similarity or resemblance between two or more things. It describes how features, qualities, or appearances align across objects, ideas, or people. The term is used in everyday language as well as in philosophical, literary, and scientific contexts to discuss analogy, comparison, or the degree of sameness.

Etymology and related forms: Líkans is derived from the adjective lík/ líkur, meaning similar. Related words include líkan, which can refer to a model or image, and the verb líkjast, meaning to resemble or be like. The word sits within a family of terms that express comparison and likeness in Icelandic.

Usage and context: In everyday speech, líkans helps describe how two subjects resemble each other. In academic writing, it appears in discussions of classification, metaphor, and analogy, where authors compare features across categories or concepts. The concept is distinct from exact sameness but emphasizes notable similarities that warrant analysis or consideration.

See also: Similarity, analogy, resemblance, líkan, líkjast. In Icelandic linguistic and philosophical usage, likens are tools for describing relationships between objects, ideas, or representations.