figure French · revision 16756

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 881, Sequence of Saint Eulalia|origins=la fingō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fi.ɡyʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''figure''' ''f'' (plural figures)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|figūra|t=shape, form; image; figure of speech; manner]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|3, 512a) formed on the stem of [[m|la|fingō|t=to shape in clay]], whose inherited French outcome is [[feindre]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873) The Petit Robert connects it with a root [[ine-pro|*dʰeyǵʰ-|t=to knead, shape]], also seen in [[grc|τεῖχος|tr=teîkhos|t=wall]] and [[en|dough]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ Wiktionary treats it as inherited from Old French, which had borrowed it from Latin.^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[ro|figură]], [[pro|figura]], [[es|figura]] and [[it|figura]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Sequence of Saint Eulalia'' (about 881) has ''In figure de colomb volat a ciel'', “in the shape of a dove she flew to heaven”: the outward form of a being.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The general sense “outward form, appearance” is now literary, as in ''le Chevalier à la Triste Figure'', a calque of the Spanish name of Don Quixote; it also meant “behaviour” (about 1050) until the classical period, whence ''faire figure'' and ''faire bonne, mauvaise figure''.^(DHLF 1992) From the 12th century it named a drawing, then a portrait or statue (1269), a figure in arithmetic (1269–78), in geometry (1546) and in dance (1680).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(BHVF) Latin ''figura'' “sign, symbol” was taken up early (1121–34, ''par figure'' “allegorically”), and figures of speech belong to the same line.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Specialized from “form”, the word was used from the mid-16th century of the face and of the air one has (1662, Molière), and, from the 18th century it replaced ''visage'' and ''face'' in everyday speech, Bloch and Wartburg note that the sense “face” spread over the whole Gallo-Romance area.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) The sense “exemplary case” (about 1375) led to “remarkable person” (Montaigne, 1595).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 881 – “Outward form”, ''Sequence of Saint Eulalia''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1119 – The form of a word, Philippe de Thaon.^(TLFi)

+ * 1121–34 – A drawn image, ''par figure'' “allegorically”, Philippe de Thaon.^(TLFi)

+ * 1269–78 – “Statue”, and a numeral, in the ''Roman de la Rose''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1546 – A geometrical figure.^(TLFi)

+ * 1595 – “Notable person”, Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1662 – “Air, look”, Molière's ''Femmes savantes''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1680 – A figure in dancing, Richelet.^(TLFi)

+ * 18th century – “Face”, Lesage's ''Gil Blas''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|face]]: ''se casser la figure'', to fall flat, ''casser la figure à quelqu'un''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # Look, countenance, ''faire bonne figure'', to put on a brave face, ''faire figure de'', to look like, pass for.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A person, a [[m|en|personality]]: ''une grande figure de l'histoire''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A representation of a person or thing in drawing, painting or sculpture; an [[m|en|illustration]] in a book, ''figure de proue'', a figurehead.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(geometry)'' A figure, ''(dance, skating)'' a set series of movements.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(rhetoric)'' ''Figure de style'': a [[m|en|figure of speech]].^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(cards)'' A [[m|en|court card]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''Cas de figure'': a scenario, a possible case.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[figurer]]

+ * [[figuratif]]

+ * [[figuration]]

+ * [[figurant]]

+ * [[figurine]]

+ * [[défigurer]]

+ * [[configurer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[feindre]]

+ * [[fiction]]

+ * [[effigie]]

+ * [[la|figūra]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}