figure etymology

Etymology

The word "figure" comes from the Latin word "figura," which means "shape," "form," or "appearance." It is related to the verb "fingere," which means "to shape," "to mold," or "to form."

Meaning

In English, "figure" has several interrelated meanings:

• Shape or Form: The outline or structure of something.
• Image or Representation: A picture, statue, or other representation of a person or thing.
• Number: A written symbol or numeral that represents a number.
• Person of Note: An important or prominent person in a given field or society.
• Figurative Language: A word or phrase used in a non-literal sense to create a certain effect, such as a metaphor or simile.

Origin

The Latin word "figura" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bheigh-," meaning "to form" or "to mold." It is related to words in other Indo-European languages, such as the Greek "phyein" (to make grow) and the English "fashion."

The word "figure" has been in use in English since the 13th century. It originally referred to the shape or form of something, but its meaning has gradually expanded over time to include the other senses listed above.

figure relate terms

• figure

  Etymology The word figure comes from the Latin word figura which means shape for

• figurehead

  Etymology Middle English figurehede from Anglo Norman French figurehede from Old Fr

• figure

  Etymology The word figure comes from the Latin word figura which means shape for

• head

  Etymology The word head comes from the Old English word heafod which itself derives

• ground

  Etymology The word ground has several origins Old English grund meaning soil

• enter

  Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek words étymon true sense of a word

• design

  Etymology Design comes from the Middle English word desiner which is derived from th

• trope

  Etymology The term trope originates from the Greek word tropos which means turn o

• diagram

  Etymology The word diagram is derived from the Greek word diagramma which means fig

• quadrangle

  Etymology From Latin quadrangulum from quadrāngulus meaning having four angles from

• disfigure

  Etymology From Middle English disfigure from Anglo Norman French desfigurer from Late

• name

  Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It is a branch of historica

• mane

  Etymology Old English manu Proto Germanic manw Proto Indo European men to th

• amen

  Etymology Amen originated from the Hebrew word ʾāmēn אָמֵן which is a transl