semblancen.
/ˈsɛmbləns/, U.S. /ˈsɛmbləns/ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > [adverb]
visiblyc1380
in semblancea1400
perceivablyc1526
seeably1548
observably1640
perceptibly1644
discernibly1645
perceivedly1659
viewably1680
distinguishably1704
perceptible1755
traceably1855
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21638 Sin first þe werld was wroght, Meracles o þe cros might Has ben in semblance and in sight.
2.
a. The appearance or outward aspect of a person or thing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [noun]
onseneeOE
bleea1000
shapeOE
ylikeOE
laitc1175
semblanta1225
sightc1275
fare1297
showingc1300
specea1325
parelc1330
guise1340
countenance1362
semblance?a1366
apparel1377
regardc1380
apparencec1384
imagec1384
spicec1384
overseeminga1398
kenninga1400
seemingc1400
visage1422
rinda1450
semenauntc1450
'pearance1456
outwardc1475
representation1489
favour?a1500
figurea1522
assemblant1523
prospect?1533
respect1535
visure1545
perceiverance1546
outwardshine1549
view1556
species1559
utter-shape1566
look1567
physiognomy1567
face1572
paintry1573
visor1575
mienc1586
superficies?1589
behaviour1590
aspect1594
complexion1597
confrontment1604
show1604
aira1616
beseeminga1616
formality1615
resemblancea1616
blush1620
upcomea1630
presentment1637
scheme1655
sensation1662
visibility1669
plumage1707
facies1727
remark1748
extrinsica1797
exterior1801
showance1820
the cut of one's jib1823
personnel1839
personal appearance1842
what-like1853
look-see1898
outwall1933
visuality1938
prosopon1947
?a1366 Romaunt Rose 425 Ful lyk to hir was that image, That maked was lyk hir semblaunce.
a1400–50 Wars Alex. 4098 A burly best..Of sembalaunce as a see-bule.
1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 54 They Iugged him with his mayntene & semblaunce to be a moche noble knight.
1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in Complaints 200 Be you the Souldier, for you likest are For manly semblance, and small skill in warre.
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 iii. ii. 162 A timely parted ghost, Of ashie semblance.
1645 J. Milton Sonnet vii, in Poems 49 Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth, That I to manhood am arriv'd so near.
a1771 T. Gray Agrippina in Poems (1775) 132 By Juno, It bears a noble semblance. On this base My great revenge shall rise.
1807 W. Wordsworth Ode in Poems II. 108 Thou, whose exterior semblance doth belie Thy Soul's immensity. View more context for this quotation
1865 M. Arnold Ess. Crit. ix. 283 It may be the vulgar part of human nature which busies itself with the semblance and doings of living sovereigns.
b. The form, likeness or image of a person or thing, considered in regard to another that is similar. Chiefly in phrases, as to the semblance of; to have or take the semblance of; in (the) semblance of, in likeness of, so as to resemble; †of one's semblance, resembling him.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [noun] > that which resembles something else
swilkc1175
anlike1340
liking1340
likeningc1350
semblancec1374
resemblancea1393
likenessa1400
semblablec1400
similitudinary?a1425
like1440
assemblable?1530
a horse of another (also the same, etc.) colour1530
resembler1570
fellowa1616
remonstrance1640
simile1743
ditto1776
something of the sort1839
that or this sort of thing1848
assimilate1935
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [noun] > considered in regard to another similar
semblancec1374
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (1868) iv. pr. vi. 142 Þe þinges þat he haþ maked in to hys semblaunce [L. in sui similitudinem].
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xviii. 285 And in semblaunce [v.r. semblaunt] of a serpent sat on þe appeltre.
c1400 Pilgr. Sowle (1859) v. xiv. 80 And sodenly was sente doune the hooly ghoost in semblaunce of fyry tonges.
?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 122 This childe had hooly the veray semblance and liknes of kynge Iupiter.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin v. 91 He hadde take the semblaunce of a moche olde man.
1513 Life Henry V (1911) 37 Whereby the water gathered and arised..to the semblaunce of a little sea.
1513 Life Henry V (1911) 65 Smale children apparrelled in the semblance of Angels.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) v. v. 10 A fault done first in the forme of a beast..and then another fault, in the semblance of a Fowle. View more context for this quotation
1772 H. Mackenzie Man of World (1823) ii. v. 471 To assume her semblance, is a tribute which vice must often pay to virtue.
1815 W. Wordsworth White Doe of Rylstone i. 18 'Twas said that she all shapes could wear; And oftentimes before him stood,..In semblance of a lady fair.
1867 F. Parkman Jesuits in N. Amer. xvi. 218 And now the lake narrowed to the semblance of a tranquil river.
3. † b. to make or show (a specified) semblance. (Cf. semblant n. 3a, 3b, 3f.) Obsolete.
a. A person's appearance or demeanour, expressive of his thoughts, feelings, etc., or feigned in order to hide them. (Cf. semblant n. 1b – 1d.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > [noun] > demeanour or bearing > as expressive of feelings or opinion
semblancea1400
fashions1569
air1663
a1400–50 Wars Alex. 5192 Bot lat þi semblance be sadd quen þou þi saȝe ȝildis.
?1518 A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. Biij What is fayre semblaunce, with thought and heuynes Forsoth nought elles but cloked folysshness.
1606 J. Carpenter Schelomonocham i. f. 4 He was neuer of the mind or semblance, to be couetous towards his subiects, whiles he was bountifull to himselfe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. iii. 121 Weele haue a swashing and a marshall outside, As manie other mannish cowards haue, That doe outface it with their semblances . View more context for this quotation
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 224 A dissembling friend, with faire and false words, and semblances, draweth his neighbour into some dangerous inconvenience.
1726 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xvii. 77 Him, gath'ring round, the haughty Suitors greet With semblance fair, but inward deep deceit.
1805–6 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Inferno iv. 78 Four mighty spirits toward us bend their steps, Of semblance neither sorrowful nor glad.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > have (specific) appearance [verb (intransitive)]
looka1225
to make semblantc1290
to make or show (a specified) semblancea1387
showc1480
show1526
eyea1616
aspect1635
face1669
regard1820
feature1941
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 421 Ȝif þe Grees..comeþ þeder, þe bryddes makeþ hem good semblaunce [MS. α semblaunt].
a1450 Knt. de la Tour 161 What chere or what sembelaunce that men make vnto suche women in thaire presence.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 778 Of truth the Protectour and the Duke of Buckingham made very good sembleaunce vnto the Lord Hastinges and kept him much in their company.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. vii. sig. G5v He..Humble homage did vnto him make, Midst sorrow shewing ioyous semblance for his sake. View more context for this quotation
4.
a. An appearance or outward seeming of (something which is not actually there or of which the reality is different from its appearance).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [noun] > seeming
semblant?c1225
coloura1325
countenance1362
appearancec1386
seemc1440
fair seeming1484
resemblant1485
seeming1576
apparition1613
semblancea1616
imposture1643
verisimile1652
seemingness1656
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) ii. ii. 114 With patches, colours, and with formes being fetcht From glist'ring semblances of piety. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 529 With high words, that bore Semblance of worth not substance. View more context for this quotation
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. ii. 95 They had the appearance of a good Body of Men, there being all the semblance of great Bodies behind on the other side of the Hill.
1797 W. Godwin Enquirer i. xi. 96 Where the parent is not prepared to grant a real and bona fide equality..he should avoid the semblance of it.
1799 H. Lee Canterbury Tales (ed. 2) I. 288 [She] was not duped by this semblance of tranquillity.
1822 C. Lamb Detached Thoughts on Bks. in Elia 2nd Ser. To reach down a well-bound semblance of a volume.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 298 Carstairs was forced to content himself with the substance of power, and to leave the semblance to others.
1857 C. Dickens Little Dorrit ii. xiii. 431 On the door..appeared the semblance of a brass plate.
1861 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. (1873) III. i. 21 Any thing which bore even the semblance of wealth was an irresistible excitement to their cupidity.
1888 A. Jessopp Coming of Friars ii. 89 In many cases oiled linen cloth served to admit a feeble semblance of light.
b. An apparition or vision (of a person, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > mental image, idea, or fancy > a vision > [noun]
swevenc897
sightc950
showing?c1225
visionc1290
avisionc1300
phantasma1398
semblance1489
visure1535
visioning1832
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > optical illusion > [noun] > an optical illusion > vision or apparition
visionc1290
fantasyc1325
imagec1350
figurec1384
beholdingc1440
semblance1489
idol1563
ghost1593
fancy1609
species1639
spectrala1656
spectre1801
eidolon1828
1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes iii. i. 168 Appiered byfore me the semblaunce of a creature hauyng the fourme of a stately man.
1717 E. Fenton tr. Homer Odyssey xi, in Poems 125 I last the visionary Semblance view'd Of Hercules, a shadowy Form; for He, The real Son of Jove, in Heav'ns high Court Abides.
1813 W. Scott Bridal of Triermain ii. xxviii. 100 And her semblance oft will seem Mingling in a champion's dream, Of her weary lot to plain, And crave his aid to burst her chain.
1870 A. O'Shaughnessy Epic of Women 202 I saw Him some time by the flickering light, As the one in my dream who was playing my part; Till his semblance grew dim and was gone from my sight.
c. With negative (or equivalent): Even the appearance, the bare appearance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [noun] > mere appearance
shroudc1175
frontc1374
appearancec1384
countenance?c1425
fard1540
show1547
habit1549
outside1578
glimpse1579
superficies?1589
species1598
out-term1602
paint1608
surface1613
superfice1615
umbrage1639
superficials1652
semblance1843
outer womana1845
outward man1846
patina1957
1843 T. B. Macaulay Hallam's Constit. Hist. in Crit. Ess. I. 128 When the former wished to put his own brother to death, without even the semblance of a trial.
1847 R. W. Hamilton Rewards & Punishm. (1853) vii. 320 Where is the semblance of proof that Christ visited disembodied spirits of the wicked?
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §6. 524 The fall of Strafford had put an end to all semblance of rule.
d. in semblance, in seeming, in appearance (only).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [adverb] > seemingly or apparently
in semblant?a1366
quasi1485
cloakedlya1500
appearingly1554
in show1556
apparentlya1572
pearinglya1578
with show1614
seeminglya1616
seemingly1715
seemly1821
in semblance1864
semblably1889
mbu2002
1864 J. Bryce Holy Rom. Empire iii. 29 So was his government Roman in semblance rather than in fact.
e. In generalized sense and quasi-personification.
ΚΠ
1839 T. Carlyle Chartism v. 44 It is the heyday of Imposture; of Semblance recognising itself, and getting itself recognised, for Substance.
1841 T. Carlyle On Heroes vi. 382 The..return of mankind to Reality and Fact, now that they were perishing of Semblance and Sham.
5. A person or thing that resembles another; a likeness, image, or copy of.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > representation > [noun] > a representation
form?c1225
figurea1340
likeness1340
print1340
nebshaftc1350
resemblancea1393
visagea1400
similitude?a1425
representationc1450
simulacre1483
representa1500
semblance1513
idea1531
image1531
similitudeness1547
type1559
living image1565
portrait1567
counter-figure1573
shadow1580
countershape1587
umbrage1604
medal1608
reflex1608
remonstrance1640
transcript1646
configurationa1676
phantom1690
facsimile1801
personation1851
featuring1864
zoomorph1883
1513 Life Henry V (1911) 143 Maruelouslie imbordered wth signes and semblances of Lillies and of Roses.
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. I2v No more then waxe shall be accounted euill, Wherein is stampt the semblance of a Deuill. View more context for this quotation
1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting I. iii. 52 John Rous, the antiquarian of Warwickshire, who drew his own portrait and other semblances.
1824 T. Campbell Theodric 155 The painting long in that sweet mansion drew Regards its living semblance little knew.
1846 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters II. 82 The fact of our deriving constant pleasure from whatever is a type or semblance of divine attributes.
6. The fact or quality of being like something; likeness, resemblance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [noun]
anlikenessOE
ylikenessOE
likenessa1250
likeliheada1393
resemblancea1393
likeliness?a1425
similitudec1425
semblingc1440
alikenessc1450
assemblance1485
agreement1495
likelihood1495
agreeance1525
analogy1542
simility1543
semblablenessc1550
semblance1576
nearness1577
vicinity1594
simile1604
assimilation1605
consimilitude1610
parity1612
bly1615
similarity1615
connaturality1621
similiancy1622
connaturalnessa1628
reasemblance1638
consimilarity1658
similariness1669
similarness1670
consimility1680
kindredship1733
family likeness1759
family resemblance1785
cognateness1816
feel1892
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. Argt. 236 There is suche affinitie and semblaunce in the matter, that we could not doe amisse to ioyne them all together.
1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. ii. 122 I thought no body had been like me, but I see there was some Semblance 'twixt this good Man and I. View more context for this quotation
1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) iii. lxvii. 32 The Reins were cloath'd in whitest silk, to hold Some 'semblance to the Hand which them controll'd.
a1864 J. F. Ferrier Lect. Greek Philos. (1866) I. iv. 92 Construct our skeleton as we best may, and..give it..some semblance to the remains of an organic creature.
1900 J. G. Campbell Superstit. Sc. Highlands 78 The student..will recognize in them a semblance to the Fairy tales of the North of Ireland.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > probability, likelihood > [noun] > judged by closeness to truth
similitudec1450
appearance?1531
semblance1548
probableness1561
resemblance1561
verisimilitude1603
verisimility1646
plausibility1649
vraisemblance1802
1548 E. Gest Treat. againste Masse sig. Fiv It is expressely wrytten..(say our catholiques) that they sacrificed to thee Lorde. Therfore by al sembleaunce they sacrificed his body and bloud.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 303 Yet some semblance there is that it was yet more ancient.
8. to make semblance: to make an appearance or pretence. Const. of (something, doing something); also with clause introduced by that, as if, as though; also with inf. (Cf. semblant n. 3c, 3d.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > have (specific) appearance [verb (intransitive)] > make specific appearance
to make semblantc1230
showc1405
to make (a) countenance1470
countenance1486
to make semblancea1500
semble1542
to give a visage1549
to make resemblance1566
to set a countenance1600
figure1762
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > have an appearance of, dissemble [verb (intransitive)]
to make semblant1470
to make semblancea1500
face1566
daub1876
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin ii. 39 He that shewed yow that, made yow semblance that ye sholde be deed for me.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xx. 24 He should make a semblance as though he would remayne there in hostage.
1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge v. i. sig. I2 (stage direct.) They all make semblance of loathing Piero.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 813 A souldior..making semblance to deliver unto him the keies of the Castle.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης xxvii. 224 His words make semblance as if hee were magnanimously exercising himself.
1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. ii. 51 Who by his Father banish'd,..made semblance of marching toward Britain.
1850 W. E. Gladstone Remarks Royal Supremacy 30 Did she, or did she not, ever make a semblance of surrendering it?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.?a1366