metaphor etymology

Etymology The word "metaphor" comes from the Greek word μεταφορά (metaphorá), which means "transfer." It is derived from the root words μετά (meta), meaning "over, across," and φέρω (pherō), meaning "to bear, carry."

Meaning A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things or ideas without using the words "like" or "as." It implies a hidden resemblance or analogy between the two things. Metaphors are used to create vivid imagery, emphasize a point, or convey a complex idea in a memorable and imaginative way.

Origin The concept of metaphor has been around for centuries. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, first analyzed and discussed metaphors in his work "Poetics." He defined metaphor as "the transference of a name from a thing to which it properly belongs to something else to which it does not properly belong."

Metaphors have been extensively used throughout history in literature, poetry, music, and various other forms of artistic expression. They have played a significant role in shaping language, culture, and thought.

Examples Some common examples of metaphors include: * "Time flies." (Comparing time to a bird) * "The heart is a heavy stone." (Comparing a heavy heart to a stone) * "Life is a journey." (Comparing life to a journey with different stages and experiences) * "Knowledge is power." (Comparing knowledge to a source of strength) * "The world is a stage." (Comparing the world to a theater where individuals play different roles)

metaphor relate terms

  • metaphoric

    Etymological Roots The term metaphoric etymology is derived from the Greek words me

  • metaphor

    Etymology The word metaphor comes from the Greek word μεταφορά metaphorá whi

  • Aberdeen

    Aberdeen Etymology Meaning and Origin Etymology Aber from Proto Celtic aber mean

  • amphora

    Etymology Greek amphoreus from amphi both pherein to carry Meaning A two

  • anaphora

    Etymology From Ancient Greek ἀναφορά anaphora meaning a carrying back refe

  • aquifer

    Etymology The word aquifer comes from the Latin word aqua which means water and t

  • auriferous

    Etymology From Latin auriferus from aurum gold fer bearing Meaning Produci

  • bairn

    Etymology Middle English barne Old English bearn Proto Germanic barnaz Proto Indo E

  • barrow

    Etymology Middle English barewe from Old English beorg bearuwe a tumulus a mound

  • bear

    Etymology and Origin of Bear Proto Indo European PIE bʰr̥tos or bʰortós meanin

  • bearing

    Etymology The word bearing derives from the Old English verb beran which meant to

  • Berenice

    Etymology The name Berenice comes from the Greek word Berenike Βερενίκη whi

  • bier

    Etymology The word bier originates from the Old English term bīere which in turn l

  • birth

    Etymology Indo European root bʰer meaning to bear carry Origin Old English by

  • bring

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and how their meaning has changed over time

  • burden

    Etymology The word burden comes from the Old English word byrðen meaning load or

  • carboniferous

    Etymology The term Carboniferous is derived from the Latin words carbo coal and fe

  • Christopher

    Etymology Greek Christophoros Χριστόφορος Meaning Christ bearer

  • chromatophore

    Etymology The word chromatophore comes from the Greek words chroma χρώμα mean

  • circumference

    Etymology The word circumference traces its roots to Latin circum meaning arou

  • confer

    Etymology The word confer comes from the Latin word conferre which means to bring

  • conference

    Etymology of Conference The word conference is derived from the Latin word conferre

  • conifer

    Etymology The term conifer is derived from the Latin words conus meaning cone and

  • cumber

    Etymology Cumber comes from the Middle English word combren meaning to encumber b

  • cumbersome

    Etymology The word cumbersome derives from the Middle English term combresome which

  • defer

    Etymology and Meaning The word defer comes from the Latin word de meaning away or

  • differ

    Etymology Origin Late Latin differre meaning to put off defer From Latin dis apa

  • difference

    Etymology Difference comes from the Old French word dif f érence which in turn deriv

  • differentiate

    Etymology Refers to the study of the historical development of words including their or

  • efferent

    Etymology The word efferent comes from the Latin root effero which means to carry a

  • esophagus

    Etymology Origin Greek Root word οἰσοφάγος oisophagos Meaning Literal

  • euphoria

    Etymology Greek εὐφορία euphoria Literally meaning easy bearing Meaning

  • ferret

    Etymology The word ferret comes from the Middle French word furet meaning little t

  • fertile

    Etymology The word fertile is derived from the Latin word fertilis which means fru

  • Foraminifera

    Etymology The term Foraminifera is derived from the Latin words foramen meaning h

  • forbear

    Etymology Old English forberan Proto Germanic fra beranan Proto Indo European w e

  • fossiliferous

    Etymology From Latin fossilifere meaning bearing or containing fossils Fossilis

  • furtive

    Etymology Old French furtif stealthy sly Latin furtivus stolen secret Sansk

  • indifferent

    Etymology The word indifferent comes from the Latin indifferens which means not ma

  • infer

    Etymology Origin Latin infero meaning to bring in introduce produce Meaning 1

  • Inverness

    Etymology The name Inverness is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Inbhir Nis meaning

  • Lucifer

    Etymology Latin Lucifer Meaning Light bringer or Morning star Origin Luci

  • metaphor

    Etymology The word metaphor comes from the Greek word μεταφορά metaphorá whi

  • odoriferous

    Etymology Latin odoriferus Root odor smell ferens carrying Meaning

  • offer

    Etymology Old French offrir Latin offerre meaning to bring before to present Mean

  • opprobrium

    Etymology The word opprobrium comes from the Latin word opprobrium which itself is a

  • overbear

    Etymology Late Middle English from over excessive bear carry Meaning

  • paraphernalia

    Etymology of Paraphernalia The word paraphernalia is derived from Late Latin paraph

  • periphery

    Etymology The word periphery comes from the Greek word περιφέρεια peripher

  • pestiferous

    Etymology The word pestiferous comes from the Latin word pestis meaning plague or

  • phoresy

    Etymology Phor Greek To carry esy Greek State or condition Meaning Phoresy

  • phosphorus

    Etymology The word phosphorus originates from the Greek word φώσφορος phosp

  • Porifera

    Etymology The word Porifera is derived from Latin and has two parts Porus Meanin

  • prefer

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the history of words and their origins It helps us

  • proffer

    Etymology The word proffer comes from the Middle English profren which is itself de

  • proliferation

    Etymology Late Latin proliferat from pro forth ferre to bear French prolif

  • pyrophoric

  • refer

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way their form and meaning have chan

  • reference

    Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words and their meanings It exami

  • semaphore

    Etymology Derived from the Greek words sema sign and phorein to bear meaning l

  • somniferous

    Etymology The word somniferous is derived from Latin Somnus Meaning sleep ferus

  • splendiferous

    Etymology Latin splendidus shining brilliant Middle French splendide Old English

  • suffer

    Etymology Old French sofrir Latin sufferre Proto Indo European kwe bher kwe bhr i

  • transfer

    Etymology The word transfer comes from the Latin word transferre which means to car

  • vociferate

    Etymology Late Latin vociferāre to cry out from vox voice ferre to carry

  • vociferous

    Etymology Latin vociferus from vocem voice fer carrying bearing Mean

  • meta

    Etymology The word meta is derived from the Ancient Greek prefix μετα meta

  • metaphysics

    Etymology The word metaphysics comes from the Greek words meta after and physikos

  • metacommunication

    Etymology of Metacommunication Meta Greek prefix meaning beyond or about Communic

  • catachresis

    Etymology From Late Latin catachrēsis from Greek κατάχρησις katachrēsis

  • cotton

    Etymology The word cotton originates from the Old French word coton which is ultima

  • allusion

    Etymology Latin alludere ad to ludere to play Literally to play toward

  • running

    Etymology Origin Old English rynnan Meaning to flow move swiftly Cognates Old

  • lemon

    Etymology The word lemon originates from the Arabic word laymūn which is derived fr

  • akimbo

    Etymology From the Kongo Bantu language word nkumbu meaning one that is bent M

  • trope

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

  • Porte

    Etymology The word porte comes from the French word porte which in turn comes from

  • image

    Etymology The word image comes from the Latin word imago which in turn comes from th