Lexic.us

Definition of Figurative

1. Adjective. (used of the meanings of words or text) not literal; using figures of speech. "Figurative language"

2. Adjective. Consisting of or forming human or animal figures. "The figurative art of the humanistic tradition"

Definition of Figurative

1. a. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative.

Definition of Figurative

1. Adjective. Metaphorical or tropical, as opposed to literal; using figures; as of the use of "cats and dogs" in the phrase "It's raining cats and dogs". ¹

2. Adjective. Metaphorically so called ¹

3. Adjective. With many figures of speech ¹

4. Adjective. Emblematic ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Figurative

1. [adj]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Figurative

figural figural aftereffect figural blindness figurally figurant figurante figurantes figurants figurate figurate number

figurate numbers figurated figurately figuration figurations figurative (current term) figuratively figurativeness figuratus figure

figure-of-8 abnormality figure-of-8 bandage figure-of-8 suture figure-of-eight figure-of-eights figure-of-speech figure and ground figure dash figure dashes

Literary usage of Figurative

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. An Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures by Thomas Hartwell Horne (1852)
"The consideration >f this topic will lead us to notice the interpretation of the figurative and the Poetical language, of the Bible, ..."

2. Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews by Robert Lowth (1829)
"The figurative Style; lobe treated rather according to the genius of the Hebrew ... The definition and constituent parts of the figurative Style, Metaphor, ..."

3. The Theological and Literary Journal (1851)
"ever has, nor can have, any other meaning than that which is either literal or figurative." He says:— •• This is aimed at the assertion of a spiritual sense ..."

4. Poetry as a Representative Art: An Essay in Comparative Aesthetics by George Lansing Raymond (1899)
"Tendencies of Plain Language toward Prose, and of figurative toward Poetry—Plain Language tends to Present Thought, and figurative to Represent it—All Art ..."

5. Encyclopædia Britannica: Or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and by Colin MacFarquhar, George Gleig (1797)
"... 8 Rea] and figurative grandeur intimately connected. GRA [ ю8 ] GRA regularly from the blunter or grofler founds to the more acute and piercing, ..."

6. A Philosophical Dictionary by Voltaire (1824)
"A figurative style is constituted by metaphorical expressions, ... Ardent imagination, passion, desire—frequently deceived—produce the figurative style. ..."

7. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Embracing by Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert Hauck (1909)
"Inter- derstood as a record of facts or as a pretations figurative representation of ... The figurative interpretation, in one or other of its forms ..."

8. Lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory: Delivered to the Classes of Senior and by John Quincy Adams (1810)
"figurative LANGUAGE. HAVING in my last lecture considered the origin and character of figurative language in general, its foundation upon the association of ..."

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