different between analogous vs similary

English

Etymology

From Latin analogus, from Ancient Greek ?????????? (análogos). The application to similar features of organisms is nearly as old as the general sense. Recognizably modern uses of the second sense, distinguishing analagous from homologous, appear in the mid-19th century.

Pronunciation

• (US, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??næl.?.??s/
• (nonstandard) IPA^(key): /??næl.?.d??s/

Adjective

analogous (comparative more analogous, superlative most analogous)

1. Having analogy; corresponding to something else; bearing some resemblance or proportion (often followed by "to".)
   • 1828, Thomas De Quincey, Elements of Rhetoric (review)

     Analogous tendencies in arts and in manners.

   • 1872, John Henry Newman, Historical Sketches

     Decay of public spirit, which may be considered analogous to natural death.

   Synonyms: correspondent, like, similar, comparable, parallel

2. (biology) Functionally similar, but arising through convergent evolution rather than being homologous.

Related terms

• analog, analogue
• analogic, analogical
• analogy
• analogousness

Translations

Further reading

• analogous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

References

English

Etymology

From similar +? -ary.

Adjective

similary (comparative more similary, superlative most similary)

1. (obsolete) Similar.
   • 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, III.6:

     the plastic or formative faculty, from matter appearing homogeneous, and of a similary substance, erecteth bones, membranes, veins, and arteries […]