'altar-like' originates from the word 'altar', which comes from Latin 'altare', meaning 'high place for sacrifice'. The suffix '-like' is used to form adjectives meaning 'resembling or characteristic of'.

'altar' changed from the Old English word 'altar' and eventually became the modern English word 'altar'.

Initially, 'altar' meant 'a place for sacrifice', and over time, 'altar-like' evolved to mean 'resembling an altar'.