parrotlikeness
|par-rot-like-ness|
/ˈpærətˌlaɪnɪs/
resembling or imitating a parrot
Etymology
'parrotlikeness' originates from Modern English, formed by compounding the noun 'parrot' and the noun-forming suffix 'likeness' (from 'like' + '-ness').
'parrot' entered English in the 16th century from French 'perroquet' and earlier forms; 'likeness' developed from Old English roots for 'like' plus the suffix '-ness'; these elements were combined in Modern English to form the compound 'parrotlikeness'.
Initially, a compound of straightforward descriptive parts meaning 'resemblance to a parrot'; over time it can also convey the figurative sense of 'parrot-like imitation' (repeating without understanding).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of resembling a parrot in appearance (colors, shape, or general look).
The costume's parrotlikeness was uncanny — bright feathers and a hooked beak-shaped mask.
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Noun 2
the tendency to repeat or mimic words, sounds, or behaviors like a parrot, often without understanding.
His parrotlikeness in repeating phrases made it hard to know if he understood the discussion.
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Last updated: 2025/12/26 05:43