figure
- figure
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figure (
n.) early 13c., "
visible form or appearance of a person," from
O.Fr. figure (10c.) "
shape, body, form, figure; symbol, allegory," from
L. figura "
a shape, form, figure," from
PIE *dheigh- "
to form, build" (see
DOUGH (
Cf. dough)); originally in English with meaning "
numeral," but sense of "
form, likeness" is almost as old (mid-13c.). Philosophical and scientific senses are from
L. figura being used to translate
Gk. skhema. The rhetorical use of
figure dates to late 14c.; hence
figure of speech (1824).
Figure eight as a shape was originally
figure of eight (
c.1600).
{{12}}figure (v.) late 14c., "to represent" (in a picture); see FIGURE (Cf. figure) (n.). Meaning "to shape into" is early 15c.; "to picture in the mind" is from c.1600; "to make an appearance" is c.1600. Meaning "work out a sum" is from 1833, Amer.Eng. Related: Figured; figuring.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
figure — [ figyr ] n. f. • Xe; lat. figura « forme » I ♦ 1 ♦ Vx Forme extérieure d un corps. ⇒ aspect. Des outils « dont il ne connaît ni l usage, ni le nom, ni la figure » (La Bruyère). ♢ Mod. N avoir plus figure humaine : être si mal en point que la… … Encyclopédie Universelle
figuré — figure [ figyr ] n. f. • Xe; lat. figura « forme » I ♦ 1 ♦ Vx Forme extérieure d un corps. ⇒ aspect. Des outils « dont il ne connaît ni l usage, ni le nom, ni la figure » (La Bruyère). ♢ Mod. N avoir plus figure humaine : être si mal … Encyclopédie Universelle
Figure — Fig ure (f[i^]g [ u]r; 135), n. [F., figure, L. figura; akin to fingere to form, shape, feign. See {Feign}.] 1. The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance. [1913 Webster] Flowers have all exquisite figures. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. The… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
figure — FIGURE. s. f. La forme exterieure d une chose materielle. La figure du corps humain. cet animal, ce poisson est d une estrange figure, voilà une plante d une figure bien bizarre. une estrange figure d homme. une plaisante figure, une sotte figure … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
Figure 8 — might refer to: *Figure 8, an expression describing a Lissajous curve that resembles the number 8 *Figure 8, a circle that turns around upon itself, on its side is a symbol for infinity *Figure eight knot, (also called a Flemish Knot), is a type… … Wikipedia
figuré — figuré, ée (fi gu ré, rée) part. passé. 1° Qui est fait selon une certaine figure. Terme d anatomie. Élément anatomique figuré, se dit par opposition à éléments anatomiques amorphes ou matières amorphes. Plan figuré d une maison, d une… … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
Figure — may refer to:*A shape, drawing, or representation *Figure 8 *A person s figure *Miniature representation of something **Action figure, in arts *a number *a type of person, as in Christ figureWriting *a figure in writing is a type of floating… … Wikipedia
figure — n 1 *number, numeral, digit, integer Analogous words: symbol, *character 2 *form, shape, configuration, conformation Analogous words: *outline, contour, profile, silhouette: *character, symbol, sign, mark … New Dictionary of Synonyms
figure — [fig′yər, figyoor; ] often, esp. for v., & Brit always [, fig′ər] n. [ME < OFr < L figura < fingere, to form, shape: see DOUGH] 1. the outline or shape of something; form 2. the shape of the human body; human form 3. a person, esp. one… … English World dictionary
Figure — Fig ure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Figured}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Figuring}.] [F. figurer, L. figurare, fr. figura. See {Figure}, n.] 1. To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Figure 8 — Album par Elliott Smith Sortie 18 avril 2000 Durée 52:06 Genre Rock indépendant Producteur Elliott Smith Tom Rothrock Rob Schnapf … Wikipédia en Français
