ressemblant

Ressemblant is a French adjective meaning "similar" or "resembling," used to describe things or people that share likeness in appearance or other qualities. It is formed from the verb ressembler, whose sense is to resemble or look like another thing.

Etymology and related forms: ressembler comes from Old French and Latin roots related to similarity. The present participle ressemblance is the related noun that expresses the idea of likeness; the corresponding feminine form is ressemblante and the plural forms are ressemblants and ressemblantes.

Usage and grammar: Ressemblant agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (masculine singulier: ressemblant; feminine singulier: ressemblante; masculine pluriel: ressemblants; feminine pluriel: ressemblantes). The phrase ressembler à is the common construction to introduce the target of the resemblance, as in "un visage ressemblant à celui de sa mère" or "un objet ressemblant à une antiquité." It is also used more directly as an attribute, for example: "un visage ressemblant" or "des objets ressemblants." The word should not be confused with semblant, which means appearance or feigning rather than likeness.

Usage notes and synonyms: Ressemblant is often interchangeable with similaire, analogue, ou pareil, depending on nuance. Ressemblance (noun) expresses the general idea of likeness: "Il faut constater la ressemblance entre les deux portraits." Ressembler(pronounced different forms) is the verb form tied to this concept.

See also: ressemblance, ressembler, semblable, similaire, analogue.