figura

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [fɪˈɡuː.ra]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [fiˈɡuː.ra]^[1]

Forms

figūra f (genitive figūrae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is derived from fingō “to shape, mould”, with the suffix -ūra.^[2][1] The /g/ instead of /h/ is analogical from the present fingo.^[3] The verb is inherited from Proto-Italic *finge/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *dʰi-n-ǵʰ- (“to knead, shape”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan finds it from Terence onwards,^[3][4] and the OLD cites Pacuvius' plague “made in a new form”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant form or make-up, shape or outline, as Varro's star changing its colour, size and shape, and a person's appearance or features.^[2] It meant a pose or posture, an outward appearance as opposed to real nature, an image or likeness, and in astronomy a constellation.^[2]

In grammar it was the form of a word, and in rhetoric a figure of speech, a way of speaking that departs from the plain.^[2] Köbler also lists the senses “symbol” and “allegory”.^[4] In medieval music it was a written note.^[5] English figure came from it through Old French, first as “numeral” about 1200.^[6]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^[3][4]
• 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of something of new form.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the shape of the body.^[7][4]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of figures of speech.^[2][4]
• c. 1200 – English figure is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. Form, make-up.^[2][1]
2. Shape, outline.^[2][1]
3. Appearance, features (of a person).^[2]
4. A posture, pose.^[2]
5. An outward appearance (as opposed to reality).^[2]
6. A figure, shape; a constellation.^[2]
7. An image, likeness.^[2]
8. A kind, type.^[2]
9. (grammar) A form of a word.^[2]
10. (rhetoric) A figure of speech.^[2][1]
11. (medieval music) A note.^[5]

Word family

• figūrō

Related words

• English figure

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes figura, shape as outline, from forma, shape as the visible expression of an inner substance.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Lexicon musicum Latinum medii aevi (1992–), Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften; online ed. Wörterbuchnetz
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper