analogous

English

Etymology

From Latin analogus, from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓νᾰ́λογος (análogos);[1][2] Its English equivalent is analogy + -ous. The application to similar features of organisms is nearly as old as the general sense. Recognizably modern uses of the second sense, distinguishing analagous from homologous, appear in the mid-19th century.[3]

Pronunciation

  • (US, Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈnæl.ə.ɡəs/
  • (file)
  • (nonstandard) IPA(key): /əˈnæl.ə.dʒəs/

Adjective

analogous (comparative more analogous, superlative most analogous)

  1. Having analogy; corresponding to something else; bearing some resemblance or proportion (often followed by "to".)
    • 2013 September 20, Martina Hyde, “Is the pope Catholic?”, in The Guardian:
      At the very least, it would seem to be tinkering with the formula of the biggest spiritual brand in the world, analogous to Coca-Cola changing its famous recipe in 1985.
    • 1828, Thomas De Quincey, Elements of Rhetoric (review)
      Analogous tendencies in arts and in manners.
    • 1872, John Henry Newman, Historical Sketches
      Decay of public spirit, which may be considered analogous to natural death.
    Synonyms: correspondent, like, similar, comparable, parallel
  2. (biology) Functionally similar, but arising through convergent evolution rather than being homologous.

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. Douglas Harper (2001–2023), analogous”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. analogous”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
  3. James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Analogous”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume I (A–B), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 304, column 1.

Further reading

  • analogous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
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