analogy

n.; pl. Analogies [ L. analogia, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_;: cf. F. analogie. See Analogous. ] 1. A resemblance of relations; an agreement or likeness between things in some circumstances or effects, when the things are otherwise entirely different. Thus, learning enlightens the mind, because it is to the mind what light is to the eye, enabling it to discover things before hidden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Followed by between, to, or with; as, there is an analogy between these objects, or one thing has an analogy to or with another. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Analogy is very commonly used to denote similarity or essential resemblance; but its specific meaning is a similarity of relations, and in this consists the difference between the argument from example and that from analogy. In the former, we argue from the mere similarity of two things; in the latter, from the similarity of their relations. Karslake. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) A relation or correspondence in function, between organs or parts which are decidedly different. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Geom.) Proportion; equality of ratios. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Gram.) Conformity of words to the genius, structure, or general rules of a language; similarity of origin, inflection, or principle of pronunciation, and the like, as opposed to anomaly. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]