Dissimilitude

/ˌdɪsɪˈmɪlɪˌtud/ noun

Definition

The quality of being dissimilar or unlike; difference or lack of resemblance; the opposite of similitude.

Etymology

From Latin dissimilitudo (dis- 'not' + similitudo 'likeness/similarity'). The suffix -tude creates a noun expressing a state or quality. This philosophical and literary term contrasts with similitude, appearing in medieval and Renaissance thought.

Kelly Says

In medieval philosophy, dissimilitude was crucial—they argued humans were both in similitude to God (made in God's image) and dissimilitude to God (being finite and flawed), a paradox that shaped theological debates for centuries.

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