Resembling or having qualities of a cat, such as being quiet, graceful, stealthy, or having keen senses.
From Old English catt + -like (suffix meaning 'having the characteristics of'). The -like suffix comes from Old English gelic, meaning 'similar.'
Catlike is one of the few animal-based adjectives that carries almost entirely positive connotations—when we say someone is catlike, we usually mean they're graceful, quiet, and observant, rather than connoting negativity. Dogs don't get this same flattering treatment in compound words!
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