What is "had like"

Like \Like\ (l[imac]k), a. [Compar. Liker (l[imac]k"[~e]r); superl. Likest.] [OE. lik, ilik, gelic, AS. gel[=i]c, fr. pref. ge- + l[=i]c body, and orig. meaning, having the same body, shape, or appearance, and hence, like; akin to OS. gil[=i]k, D. gelijk, G. gleich, OHG. gil[=i]h, Icel. l[=i]kr, gl[=i]kr, Dan. lig, Sw. lik, Goth. galeiks, OS. lik body, D. lijk, G. leiche, Icel. l[=i]k, Sw. lik, Goth. leik. The English adverbial ending-ly is from the same adjective. Cf. Each, Such, Which.]

1. Having the same, or nearly the same, appearance, qualities, or characteristics; resembling; similar to; similar; alike; -- often with in and the particulars of the resemblance; as, they are like each other in features, complexion, and many traits of character.

   'T is as like you As cherry is to cherry.
   --Shak.

   Like master, like man.
   --Old Prov.

   He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
   --Ps. cxlvii. 16.

   Note: To, which formerly often followed like, is now usually omitted.

2. Equal, or nearly equal; as, fields of like extent.

   More clergymen were impoverished by the late war than ever in the like space before.
   --Sprat.

3. Having probability; affording probability; probable; likely.

   Usage: [Likely is more used now.]
   --Shak.

   But it is like the jolly world about us will scoff at the paradox of these practices.
   --South.

   Many were not easy to be governed, nor like to conform themselves to strict rules.
   --Clarendon.

4. Inclined toward; disposed to; as, to feel like taking a walk.

   Had like (followed by the infinitive), had nearly; came little short of.

   Had like to have been my utter overthrow.
   --Sir W. Raleigh

   Ramona had like to have said the literal truth, . . . but recollected herself in time.
   --Mrs. H. H. Jackson.

   Like figures (Geom.), similar figures.

   Note: Like is used as a suffix, converting nouns into adjectives expressing resemblance to the noun; as, manlike, like a man; childlike, like a child; godlike, like a god, etc. Such compounds are readily formed whenever convenient, and several, as crescentlike, serpentlike, hairlike, etc., are used in this book, although, in some cases, not entered in the vocabulary. Such combinations as bell-like, ball-like, etc., are hyphened.

vb. (context dated English) Had nearly; came little short of (qualifier: followed by the infinitive).