Roselike

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Exhibiting traits that are reminiscent of the visual appeal or fragrance associated with roses
2. Characterized by features that bring to mind the beauty or scent commonly linked with rose flowers
3. Having characteristics that remind one of a rose's appearance or smell

Etymology: "Roselike" is about as transparent as English compounds get: it joins "rose," the flower, to the suffix "-like," meaning "having the form or quality of." Put together, the word simply describes something that has the look or character of a rose, without being one. The suffix does most of the work here. "-Like" has been attached to English nouns for centuries to make adjectives such as "godlike" and "childlike," and English speakers can form new ones freely, so "roselike" follows a pattern that is open to any noun. The base word "rose" traces back through Old English "rōse" and Latin "rosa," which is itself the source of many European words for the flower. The word is a plain, productive formation, so its main interest lies in how readily English builds such adjectives from ordinary nouns rather than in any single moment of invention.

Synonyms: rose-like