analogy
analogy
(ə-nălʹə-jē) noun
Abbr. anal.
1.
a. Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar. b. A comparison based on such similarity. See synonyms at likeness.
2.
Biology. Correspondence in function or position between organs of dissimilar evolutionary origin or structure.
3. A form of logical inference or an instance of it, based on the assumption that if two things are known to be alike in some respects, then they must be alike in other respects.
4. Linguistics. a. The process by which words and morphemes are re-formed or created on the model of existing grammatical patterns in a language, as Modern English name : names for Old English nama : naman on the model of nouns like stone : stones. b. The process by which inflectional paradigms are made more regular by the replacement of an uncommon or irregular stem or affix by one that is common or regular, as bit in Modern English bit, bitten for Old English bāt, biten.
[Middle English analogie, from Old French, from Latin analogia, from Greek, from analogos, proportionate. See
analogous.]