/ / What is a “figure”? Meaning, etymology, synonyms of the word

What is a "figure"? Value, etymology, synonyms of the word

Some concepts in speech may have so muchvarious meanings, depending on the context and environment of use, which raise a number of questions about the relevance and correctness of an expression with them. One of these "stumbling blocks" is the word "figure." It can be used in everyday speech, in exact sciences, logic games, in the backbone of works of art, as well as in the composition of phraseological units. How to understand what meaning is implied in each specific situation? Consider the most frequent cases of the use of the word in more detail.

what is a figure

Value

You can select from five to ten different meanings of the word "figure." The most common ones are:

  • The external shape or shape of a person. In other words - physique. Example: "Dita Von Teese has a sandglass shape.
  • The image of a person / animal in sculpture or painting. Example: "The wax figures of Hollywood celebrities are exhibited at Madame Tussauds."
  • In geometry, it is a part of a plane bounded by a line, or a collection of points and surfaces. Example: "The shape of a triangle is formed by the intersection of three straight lines with the formation of three internal angles."
  • Subject of a given form, used when playing chess, towns. Example: "He slowly placed the pieces on the board, concentrated and proceeded to the game."
  • Drawings, patterns and shapes that formitems arranged in a specific order. Example: "Freakish shapes appeared in a kaleidoscope at the slightest shaking, giving a sense of fairy tale and the euphoria of creativity."
  • Stylistic reception in literary criticism. Example: "To enhance the expressiveness of what has been said, such figures as inversion, antithesis, epiphora, anaphora are used."
  • The meaning of the word "figure" can be portable. Such cases include the following:
  1. An artistic image created in literature or an actor on stage. Example: "Do not underestimate the figure of the father in the development of the plot of the Cinderella fairy tale."
  2. An important person or person in culture or politics. Example: "Mother Teresa can be called a figure of world importance. For all, she has become a symbol of sacrifice and kindness".

the meaning of the word figure

Etymology

The word "figure" comes from the Latin figura,denoting the image or appearance of something. Obsolete values ​​include its use in astrology. For example, the "figure of the Earth" as its external shape. The Latin verb fingere, meaning “form, touch, or invent,” also underlies the origin of the meanings of a word. In Proto-Indo-Jewish it was associated with "knead, sculpt from clay." What is a “figure” and how did the word come to us? In Russian, it came from Polish (figura). First mentioned by Peter I in the meaning of "plastic figure."

Synonyms

Words with a similar or identical meaning.allow you to more fully disclose and empower the use of a particular concept. What is a "figure" in the literal and figurative sense, has already been considered. And what other words will give the same meaning for expanding the stylistic possibilities of speech? These include: person, personality, person, drawing, example, texture, turnover, ace, subject, image, type, reception, image, image, position, constitution (physique), pirouette, etc.

Each of the above words can replace the word "figure" in a particular context without prejudice to the meaning.

Steady phrases and idioms

An “important figure” is used to characterize an individual or image that plays social, political, and cultural roles in a given environment. Sometimes it may be ironic.

The “key figure” is used to designate the leading role of an individual or character in life, an artwork or on stage. Strengthens figurative statements.

“The figure of speech”, “stylistic / rhetorical figure” refer to literary devices and are stable terms and phrases.

Idioms allow more capacious, emotionallyand accurately express the attitude of the speaker to the phenomenon, concept or person. What is a "figure", it becomes even clearer from the above examples of stable expressions.

word figure

Some concepts may cause confusion.understanding because of the abundance of usage contexts. Location, image, turnover, object, character, outline - any of these words can successfully replace the synonym for "figure." The choice of alternative dictates the scope of use and context. What is a figure was considered in the most frequent cases of use. They will take another step in expanding vocabulary.