'person-like' originates from English, combining the noun 'person' (from Latin 'persona') and the Old English suffix '-like' (from 'līc' meaning 'form' or 'similar').

'person' entered English via Old French 'persone' from Latin 'persona', while the suffix '-like' derives from Old English 'līc'; the compound 'person-like' was formed in Modern English by joining these elements.

Initially, 'persona' in Latin referred to a mask or character and '-līc' meant 'having the form of'; over time the combined English form came to mean 'resembling a person' in appearance or attributes.