Tearlike

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Resembling or characteristic of tears in appearance or quality; having the form or shape of droplets like tears; expressing sorrow or emotion as tears do
2. Showing qualities similar to tears, such as being moist, transparent, or shed from the eyes; shaped like small drops typically associated with crying; conveying sadness or tenderness as tears symbolize
3. Having attributes that evoke or mimic tears, including clear drops, wetness, or emotional expression; formed in the shape of teardrops; indicative of weeping or emotional distress through appearance or feeling

Etymology: "Tearlike" is a plain compound: the noun "tear" (a drop of liquid from the eye) joined to the suffix "-like," meaning "resembling or having the qualities of." The suffix comes from the Old English "gelic," ultimately related to "lich" (body or form), and it has been attached to English nouns for centuries to produce adjectives like "childlike" and "lifelike." The word is built to be used in two senses. Literally, it describes something shaped like a drop, such as a gem or a droplet of liquid. Figuratively, it describes an expression, voice, or quality that seems to carry the feeling of weeping, which lets writers talk about a tearlike song or a tearlike gaze without actually mentioning crying. The compound itself is transparent, so the word needs no special story beyond the two parts it joins.

Synonyms: lacrimal, tearful, weeping, weepy, lachrymose

Antonyms: dry, tearless