Resembling an ape in appearance, behavior, or characteristics; having qualities that are similar to those of an ape.
From 'ape' + '-like' (suffix meaning similar to or resembling). The '-like' suffix is from Old English and is one of the most productive word-formation tools in English.
The '-like' suffix is so common that we barely notice it, but it lets us describe anything by comparing it to something else—'apelike' hands, movements, or intelligence are immediately understood because we can visualize what apes look like.
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