Figurative

a. Also 4–5 figuratif, 4–6 fygurative, -tyf, -tyve. [a. Fr. figuratif, -ive, ad. late L. figūrātīvus, f. figūrāre to FIGURE.]

  1.  Representing by a figure or emblem; emblematical, typical.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. xxvii. (1495), 217. Dremes ben somtyme wrappyd in fyguratyf mystyk.

1504.  trans. De Imitatione, IV. xi. This royall souper, in the which thou hast nat purposed to be eten the fyguratyue lambe.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xv. (1611), 208. This they will say was figuratiue, and serued but for a time.

1650.  Bulwer, Anthropomet., 174. Plato therefore writes, that the Nailes were made Notæ gratia, for a figurative token.

1853.  Marsden, The History of the Early Puritans, 22. They were a part of the divinely appointed constitution of the Jewish church, and had passed away with the rest of its figurative and mystic ceremonial.

  2.  Pertaining to, or of the nature of, pictorial or plastic representation.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 156. Serpents or Dragons … in whose heads are many pretious stones, with such naturall seals or figurative impressions as if they were framed by the hand of man.

1843.  Prescott, Mexico (1850), I. 77. This is the representative or figurative writing, which forms the lowest stage of hieroglyphics.

1889.  J. Hirst, in Archæol. Inst. Jrnl., No. 181. 34. Illustrating the transmission of both geometric as well as animal and figurative decorated forms from East to West.

  † 3.  Pertaining to the use of graphic symbols. Figurative arithmetic: algebra. Also, Of the nature of a symbolic diagram. Obs.

1690.  Leybourn, Cursus Math., 335. Division is done in Figurative Arithmetick … by applying some Line of Separation between the Dividend and the Divisor.

1800.  trans. Lagrange’s Chem., I. 13. Let us still exhibit a figurative table.

  4.  Of speech: Based on, or involving the use of, figures or metaphors; metaphorical, not literal.

14[?].  Prose Legends, in Anglia, VIII. 134. Hee puttiþ legeauns and figuratif spekynges þat are not lighte to be turnyd in to englische langage wiþ-outen moor expounynge.

a. 1568.  Coverdale, Hope Faithf., xxvii. The prophet Ezekiel saith, that in hell there is a great multitude of graves; and so by a figurative and borrowed speech he declareth the horror, mourning, weeping, and lamentation of the damned.

1589.  Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. iv. (Arb.), 24–5. The vtterance in prose is not of so great efficacie, because not only it is dayly vsed, and by that occasion the eare is ouerglutted with it, but is also not so voluble and slipper vpon the tong, being wide and lose, and nothing numerous, nor contriued into measures, and founded with so gallant and harmonical accents, nor in fine allowed that figuratiue conueyance, nor so great licence in choice of words and phrases as meeter is.

1607.  Topsell, Serpents (1653), 653. I take the morrall of it to be vttered as a wittie checke, or a figuratiue flout, conceitedly to rebuke & hit in the teeth, those shrewd women, curst and scolding wiues, which are so peeuish that they will not be pacified, who are like vnto waspes in their sullen displeasant humours, tempestuous madnes, and pelting chafe.

1711.  J. Greenwood, An Essay towards a Practical English Grammar, 217. Customary or Figurative Syntax, is that which is used in the Forms, of Speech, peculiar to several Languages; wherein Words are put together according to a Metaphorical or borrowed Sense of them.

1785.  T. Reid, Int. Powers, 15. There is a figurative sense in which things are said to be in the mind.

1845.  H. J. Rose, in Encycl. Metrop., II. 891/1. Will it be contended that this was not figurative language?

1859.  Seeley, Ecce Homo, iii. (ed. 8), 25–6. It is not uncommon to describe the Jews as having simply made the mistake of confounding a figurative expression with a literal one.

  b.  Metaphorically so called.

14[?].  Prose Legends, in Anglia, VIII. 118. Þe figuratif body of Chryste, þat is holy chirche.

1577.  Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 5. Also Princes, whom the Prophets by the precept of God, have annointed and made figurative Christs: because they figuratively resembled the divine Word of God, and the regall and princely power of the onely and true Christ governing all things.

1832.  Sir G. C. Lewis, Remarks on the Use and Abuse of Some Political Terms, v. 44. Easily confound real with figurative sovereignty, and thus to be led to suppose that the people truly possess the sovereign power, and therefore are not subject to it.

1842.  S. Lover, Handy Andy, ii. He saw a real instead of a figurative blister.

  5.  Abounding in or addicted to figures of speech.

1589.  Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. vii. (Arb.), 166. Which thing made the graue iudges Areopagites (as I find written) to forbid all manner of figuratiue speaches to be vsed before them in their consistorie of Iustice.

1693.  Dryden, Juvenal, Preface. Sublime subjects ought to be adorned with the sublimest, and consequently often, with the most figurative expressions.

1740.  J. Clarke, An Essay on the Education of Youth in Grammar-Schools (ed. 3), 88. Tho’ they are they are indeed easy Authors, yet they are more Figurative than Cæsar, and by consequence not so plain.

1783.  H. Blair, Lect., I. xiv. 274 They will pour forth a torrent of Figurative Language, as forcible as could be employed by the most artificial declaimer.

1789.  Belsham, Ess., I. ii. 25. He [Shakespeare] is the most figurative writer, Ossian perhaps excepted, in our language; yet his similies and metaphors are chosen with such exquisite propriety, and so happily adapted to the disposition, situation, and circumstances, of the different speakers, that his style very rarely appears stiff, or laboured, or affected.

1878.  Browning, Poets Croisic, cxiii.

  † 6.  Mus. = FIGURATE a. 4. Obs.

1744.  Suppl. Harris’s Lex. Techn., s.v. Counterpoint, Counterpoint is divided into simple and figurative … Figurative Counterpoint is of two Kinds, in one, Discords are introduced occasionally, as passing Notes … in the other, the Discord bears a chief Part of the Harmony.