Etymologically
Log in

figura

This is an old revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 19:56. It may differ significantly from the current version. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Current version Changes in this edit History

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] Christian writers used it of a type or prefiguration.[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

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