Also 5 figuracion. [a. F. figuration, ad. L. figūrātiōn-em, n. of action f. figūrāre to fashion, FIGURE.]
1. The action or process of forming into figure; determination to a certain form.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., II. xiv. (1634), 230. Finally the figuration of Christ, hath with them the place of begetting.
1656. H. More, Enthus. Tri., 4. Imagination then (that is, the inward figuration of our Brain or Spirits into this or that representation) is far stronger then any motion or agitation from without.
1677. Grew, Anat. Fruits, vi. § 2. The Vessels serve for the Figuration of the Fruit.
1856. R. A. Vaughan, Mystics (1860), II. 230. A mysticism like that of Tauler strives to escape all image and ‘figuration.’
b. quasi-concr. The resulting form or shape; contour, outline.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 199. The chiefe cite of whom is callede Brundusium … in that hit holdethe in the figuracion of hit the similitude of the hede of an herte.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 77/1. Constantine caused a Crosse after the same figuration to be made of gold and precious stones.
1658. Sir T. Browne, The Garden of Cyrus, iii. 53. Quincuncial forms and Ordinations are also observable in animall figurations.
1697. T. Smith, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 249. The different shapes and figurations of letters in several ages of the world.
1728. Pemberton, Newton’s Philos., 8. The figuration and the motion of bodies strike our senses more immediately than most of their other properties.
1842. De Quincey, in Blackw. Mag., LI. 13. Their very figurations now appeared to reflect and repeat each other.
1890. J. H. Stirling, Gifford Lect., iv. 71. Finite things were the figurations, the lineamentations of extension.
2. The action of representing figuratively; an allegorical or figurative representation.
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc., Pref. (1573), 12. It [this Apocalippes] sheweth vs also sondry descriptions and figurations of matters most weightie, but first and chiefly of that honorable Trinitie.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 266. The sacrament is not a bare figuration of the flesh of Christ, but his flesh in deede, spiritually receiued.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 213. In Prophetick Figurations one individual Beast signifies a Multitude of men.
1737. Waterland, Eucharist (1730), 28. The faint shadows and dark Intimations of the legal Types or Figurations.
1840. Lytton, Pilgr. Rhine, xxvi. The harmless faun has been made the figuration of the most implacable of fiends.
1871. Macduff, Mem. Patmos, xix. 256. The island-home of the Apostle-prisoner and its surroundings may have possibly added power and reality to the figuration.
3. The action of framing figures or shapes: a. in dreams; in quot. quasi-concr. b. Ornamentation by means of figures or designs. rare.
1652. Gaule, Πῦς-μαντία, the Mag-astro-mancer, 176. There is neither vertue nor efficacy in such fabrications, or figurations, from God, Angels, nature, etc.
1730–6. Bailey (folio), Figuration, a chimerical vision.
1866. J. G. Murphy, Comm., Ex. xxvi. 36–7. The figuration is wrought not by the loom, but by the needle.
† 4. Math. a. The making of arithmetical figures. b. The multiplying of a number into itself (see FIGURATE v. 5); involution. Obs.
c. 1430. Art of Nombrynge (E.E.T.S.), 2. Ffigure is clepede for protraccione of figuracione.
1674. Jeake, A Compleat Body of Arithmetick (1696), 373. Figuration of the Sinister part of the Divisor.
5. Music. Employment of figurate or florid counterpoint; alteration of a theme or counterpoint by the introduction of passing-notes, rapid figures, etc.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 90. Phi. What is Figuration? Ma. When you sing one note of the plain-song long, and another short, etc.
a. 1646. J. Gregory, Nicene Creed, Wks. (1649), 53. The Singing of the Nicene Creed, as now it is, with all the Ornaments and Figurations of Harmonie, is but a yesterdays business, and contemporary to the Organ.
1883. C. H. H. Parry, in Grove, Dict. Mus., III. 759. The process is rather that of free figuration of two or three parts, giving in general a contrapuntal effect to the whole. Ibid. (1889), IV. 761. The mixed style, in which the figuration introduced consists chiefly of suspended concords [etc.].
