▪ I. figure, n.
(ˈfɪgə(r), -jʊə(r))
Forms: 3–4 vig(o)ur, (3 wygur), 4–5 fig(o)ur, (5 fegure), 4–6 fygure, 3– figure.
[a. Fr. figure (= Pr., Sp., It. figura), ad. L. figūra, f. *fig- short stem of fingĕre: see feign.
The L. word was the ordinary rendering of Gr. σχῆµα (see scheme) in its many technical uses; several of the senses below are traceable, wholly or in part, to Greek philosophy.]
I. Form, shape.
1. a. The form of anything as determined by the outline; external form; shape generally; spec. figure of the earth: see geoid and quot. 1931.
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 52 But yet it [a statue] was as in figure Most lich to mannes creature. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 141 A man that is in a derke kaue may not se his propre figure. 1535 Coverdale Ezek. x. 22 The figure of their faces was, euen as I had sene them. 1626 Bacon Sylva §221 The Figure of a Bell partaketh of the Pyramis. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. (1729) I. 537 Their Faces are of a flat oval Figure. 1698 J. Keill Exam. Th. Earth (1734) 289 The Theorist..had deduced its [the Earth's] true Figure from its true causes. 1705 [see oblate a.]. 1756 Nugent Gr. Tour I. 164 The figure of the city is an oblong square. 1830 Kater & Lardn. Mech. i. 5 Bodies having very different volumes may have the same figure. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. xix. 318 In addition to this change of size..the figure of the ship suffers a change. 1931 Bull. Nat. Res. Counc. lxxviii. vii. 113 Figure of the Earth.—The defining elements of the mathematical surface which approximates the geoidal surface. The figure of the earth has been proved to be approximately an oblate spheroid. |
b. In generalized sense, as an attribute of body.
| 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. iii. in Ashm. (1652) 141 Both fygure and ponderosyte. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxxi. §2 Solidity and Extension, and the Termination of it, Figure. 1744 Harris Three Treat. (1841) 29 Such things..as are peculiarly characterized by figure and colour. 1831 Brewster Optics xvii. §90. 147 Crystals whose..simplest form had only one axis of figure. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 275 Figure is the only thing that always follows colour. |
† c. Appearance, aspect; also, attitude, posture.
| 1513 Douglas æneis v. xiii. 13 The seis figur wes abhominable. 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. iv. 58 Some Christians..decline the figure of rest, and make choice of an erect posture. 1684 Charnock Attrib. God (1834) II. 577 To have devout figures of the face, and uncomely postures of the soul. |
d. transf. The ‘shape’, state (of a matter).
rare.
| 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. (1865) I. iii. iii. 150 As to Friedrich's Pomeranian quarrel, this is the figure of it. |
2. Geom. A definite form constituted by a given line or continuous series of lines so arranged as to enclose a superficial space, or by a given surface or series of surfaces enclosing a space of three dimensions; any of the classes or species of such forms, as the triangle, circle, cube, sphere, etc.
| 1340 Ayenb. 234 Ine þe rounde figure: þe ende went ayen to his ginninge. 1551 Recorde Pathw. Knowl. i. Defin., Figures..be made of pricks, lines or platte formes. 1570 Billingsley Euclid i. xv. 3 Of all figures a circle is the most perfect. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 814 A Figure is the superficies, circumscription, and accomplished lineament of a bodie. 1714 Steele Englishman No. 46 That beautiful Figure in Architecture called a Pyramid. 1809–10 Coleridge Friend (1865) 97 A circle is..a figure constituted by the circumvolution of a straight line with its one end fixed. 1823 H. J. Brooke Introd. Crystallogr. 137 The new figures would be octahedrons. 1840 Lardner Geom. 134 A figure may be constructed similar to a given figure. |
† 3. The proper or distinctive shape or appearance (of a person or thing).
Obs.| a 1300 Cursor M. 22148 (Cott.) O thinges sere þair naturs [anticrist sal do] turnd to be in sere figurs. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 2320 A devel in his fygur right. c 1386 Chaucer Monk's T. 232 Than..God..him [Nebuchadnezzar] restored to his regne and his figure. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) iv. 13 Scho bad hem þat he schuld..hafe na drede of hir, what figure so euer he sawe hir. a 1400–50 Alexander 360 Þe figour of a freke he sall take eftire. 1475 Bk. Noblesse (1860) 21 Wonderfulle entreprises..that Hercules did, whiche is writen in figure of a poesy. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado i. i. 15 Doing in the figure of a Lambe, the feats of a Lion. 1611 Bible Isa. xliv. 13 The carpenter..maketh it after the figure of a man. |
4. a. Of a living being: Bodily shape,
occas. including appearance and bearing. Now chiefly of persons.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 746 Quo formed þe þy fayre fygure? 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 283 b/1 A monk of a ryght honourable fygure and parure. 1484 ― Fables of æsop iv. iv, To the [the pecok] they [the goddes] haue gyuen fayr fygure. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon xlii. 140 Yf I shold dyscryue his foule fygure at length. 1637 Nabbes Microcosm. ii. C ij, When other creatures..Look downwards on't, [thou] hast an erected figure. 1740 Chesterfield Lett. I. lxii. 174 [Poets] represent as persons, the passions, and many other things that have no figures nor persons belonging to them. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) II. 106 There is little known exactly with regard to the proportion of the human figure. Ibid. IV. 24 Few readers..are not as well acquainted with the figure of a Squirrel. 1863 F. A. Kemble Resid. in Georgia 42 The figures of some of the women are handsome. 1869 Boutell Arms & Arm. vii. 109 This hauberk was adjusted to the figure by a belt. 1888 Burgon Lives 12 Gd. Men I. ii. 140 His dignified aspect and commanding figure. |
b. The bodily frame, considered with regard to its appearance.
| 1715–20 Pope Iliad ix. 71 Wise Nestor then his reverend figure rear'd. 1728 ― Dunc. ii. 62 So lab'ring on, with shoulders, hands, and head, Wide as a windmill all his figure spread. |
5. a. An embodied (human) form; a person considered with regard to visible form or appearance.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1006 In ðe dale of mambre, saȝ abraham figures ðre. c 1420 Anturs of Arth. xi, Ho was a figure of flesche, fayrest of alle. c 1450 Lonelich Grail xliii. 303 The fegure þat there-owt gan gon. 1602 Shakes. Ham. i. i. 109 This portentous figure Comes armed through our watch. 1673 Dryden Marr. à la Mode iii. i, What a figure of a man is there! 1730 A. Gordon Maffei's Amphith. 50 Two Figures..in the Action of going into the Amphitheatre. 1754 Richardson Grandison IV. xxi. 153 She is a very fine figure of a woman. 1768 Sterne Sent. Journ. (1782) II. 81 A tall figure, of a philosophic, serious, adust look. 1877 Rita Vivienne i. iv, He saw a figure leaning against the embrasure of one of the windows. |
b. colloq. A person of grotesque or untidy appearance.
figure of fun: a ludicrous personage, an oddity.
| 1774 F. Burney Early Diary (1889) I. 322, I..obtained leave to come down, though..quite a figure. 1811 L. M. Hawkins C'tess. & Gertr. (K.O.), Figure of fun. 1813 Lady Burghersh in Lett. (1893) 61 Words can't describe the figures the women dress here of a morning. 1840 F. Trollope Widow Married vii, what..can have induced you to make such a figure of yourself? 1861 Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. xviii. (1889) 173 The figure of fun was a middle-aged man of small stature. 1886 Burton Arab. Nts. I. 82 Each of them is a figure o' fun after his own fashion. |
6. transf. A person as an object of mental contemplation; a personage.
father-figure: see
father n. 12.
| 1734 Watts Reliq. Juv. (1789) 216 She had rather bear an inconvenience herself, than give an uneasiness even to the meaner figures of mankind. 1847 Emerson Repr. Men, Goethe Wks. (Bohn) I. 389 And he flung into literature, in his Mephistopheles, the first organic figure that has been added for some ages. 1874 Green Short Hist. vi. §6. 335 This utter absence of all passion..makes the figure of [Thomas] Cromwell the most terrible in our history. 1888 Bryce Amer. Commw. II. liii. 327 The disappearance of this brilliant figure [Hamilton]. |
7. Conspicuous appearance. In phrase
to make (familiarly to cut) a figure:
a. in neutral sense, with qualifying
adj.: To present a (good, bad, splendid, ridiculous, etc.) appearance; to produce an impression of specified character on the beholder.
| 1699 Bentley Phal. 361 Any Metaphor at all makes but a very bad Figure. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 57 ¶1 To understand among what Sort of Men we make the best Figure. 1727 A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. I. xii. 134 The City makes a good figure from the Sea. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. x, When Moses has trimmed them a little, they will cut a very tolerable figure. 1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsem. V. (1809) 87 London Riders,..who cut..so smart a figure in a country town. 1882 W. Ballantine Exper. I. 456 Witnesses of this kind cut but an awkward figure in the hands of a skilful counsel. 1883 S. C. Hall Retrospect I. 240 He made but a poor figure in the House. |
b. To appear in a ridiculous aspect.
| 1726 Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 212 It was as much as I could do to keep my Countenance at the Figure he made. 1854 Felton Fam. Lett. xlvi. (1865) 343 There is nothing more comical than the figure an English scholar cuts when he first comes to Athens. |
c. To occupy a conspicuous or distinguished position; to play a prominent or important part; to attract admiration or respect.
Cf. F.
faire figure.
| 1691 J. Wilson Belphegor v. i. Dram. Wks. (1874) 368 And what figure do you make in this house? 1697 Dryden æneid ii. 116 While his arms..rul'd the Counsels of the Court, I made some figure there. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 92 ¶8 Gentlemen that make a Figure at Will's. 1736 Butler Anal. i. iii, Revolutions, which make a figure even in the history of the world. 1749 Chesterfield Lett. II. 233, I am very willing that you should make, but very unwilling that you should cut, a figure..; the cutting a figure being the very lowest vulgarism in the English language. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) I. 223 The first painter who seems to have made any figure in this reign. 1809 Syd. Smith Wks. (1859) I. 171/2 Boys, who make a considerable figure at school..often make no figure in the world. 1824 W. Irving T. Trav. I. 187 If they did not make much figure in talking, they did in eating. 1864 Burton Scot Abr. I. iv. 206 Kirkaldy of Grange..cut some figure in politics. |
8. a. Importance, distinction, ‘mark’. Now only with reference to persons, in phrases (somewhat
arch.)
man, woman of figure, a person of rank and station.
| 1692 Dryden St. Evremont's Ess. 192 Persons of the greatest Figure make every thing valued according to their Fancy. 1703 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1732) 44 Another River, of no inconsiderable figure. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 122 ¶7 The speech..was..designed..to give him a Figure in my Eye. 1769 De Foe's Tour Gt. Brit. II. 63 Wallingford..a Place of great Figure. c 1800 K. White Rem. (1837) 379, I met him..in company with persons of apparent figure. 1851 Carlyle Sterling ii. i. (1872) 89 Mr. Sterling, a private gentleman of some figure. |
b. Style of living, ostentation, display.
arch.| 1602 Ld. Cromwell iii. iii. 2 Our County now exceeds the figure Of common entertainments. 1720 De Foe Capt. Singleton xx. (1840) 342 He obliged her not to increase her figure, but live private. 1807 Fielding's Tom Jones I. Life 11 Fond of figure and magnificence, he incumbered himself with a large retinue. 1851 Carlyle Sterling i. ix. (1872) 55 Lieutenant-General Barton of the Life-guards..lived in a certain figure here in town. |
II. Represented form; image, likeness.
9. a. The image, likeness, or representation
of something material or immaterial.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xxii. 4 Ill men..beris þe figure of ded. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) vii. 25 Euermare in þe middes of þam es funden þe figure of þe crosse. 1481 Caxton Myrr. i. iii. 9 He fourmed hym [man] to his figure and semblaunce. 1531 Elyot Gov. i. xxvi, There is nat a more playne figure of idlenesse, than playinge at dise. 1608 Shakes. Per. v. iii. 92 In Helicanus may you well descry A figure of truth, of faith, of loyalty. 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. iii. 40 The mystical Figures of Peacocks, Doves and Cocks. 1791 Burke App. Whigs Wks. VI. 30 He is their standard figure of perfection. 1878 B. Taylor Deukalion Argt. 10 She is no figure of the Faith of her day. |
† b. An imaginary form, a phantasm.
Obs.| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame i. 48 Or if the soule..warnith al and some..Be avisions or be figures. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iv. ii. 231 To scrape the figures out of your husbands braines. |
10. esp. An artificial representation of the human form.
a. In sculpture: A statue, an image, an effigy.
† to work by the figure (quot 1598):
perh. to operate on a wax effigy of a person, for the purpose of enchantment (Schmidt); some have referred it to sense 14.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2290 (Cott.) Lik til his fader þat was ded A wygur was mad. a 1300 E.E. Psalter xcvi[i] 7 Alle schente be..Þat mirthen in þar vigours [in simulacris] als. c 1400 Destr. Troy 4349 The Figur of his fader was falsly honouryt. 1483 Caxton Cato A iij b, To adoure the ymages and other fygures humayn. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 4087 Stage Direct., Heir sal Dissait be drawin up, or ellis his figure. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iv. ii. 185 A witch..She workes by Charmes, by Spels, by th' Figure. 1611 Bible 1 Kings vi. 29 Carued figures of Cherubims. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 646 The breathing Figures of Corinthian Brass. 1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Lett. II. xlvi. 35 All the figures have their heads on. 1807–8 Scott Wav. App. ii, I tried..to frighten her..by introducing a figure through a trap-door. 1851 Hussey Papal Power iii. 158 The use of figures in Churches. |
b. In painting, drawing, etc.: A representation of human form (as opposed to landscape, still life, etc.). Now restricted to representation of the whole or greater part of the body.
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xi. 43 A boist of grene iasper with foure figures and viii. names of oure Lord þerin. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 159/2 Fygure, or lykenesse. 1676 North's Plutarch Add. Lives 75 His Cabinet, furnished with many Pourtraitures and Figures of those who had been Travellers. 1695 Dryden tr. Du Fresnoy's Art of Painting Pref. 37 In the principal Figures of a Picture..consists the principal beauty of his [the Painter's] Work. 1705 Addison Italy 13 Tapestry, in which are wrought the Figures of..great Persons. 1821 Craig Lect. Drawing viii. 428 If your subject be of figures. 1832 G. Downes Lett. Cont. Countries I. 14 On the front are the figures of his wife and child. |
c. Her. (
Cf. F.
figure the face.)
| 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Figure, in heraldry, a bearing in a shield, representing or resembling a human face; as a sun, a wind, an angel, etc. |
† 11. a. Represented character; part enacted; hence, position, capacity.
Obs.| 1610 Shakes. Temp. iii. iii. 83 Brauely the figure of this Harpie, hast thou Perform'd. 1673 Dryden Marr. à la Mode v. i, Since he is King, methinks he has assumed another Figure. 1675 Temple Let. to Sir J. Williamson Wks. 1731 II. 314 His Majesty would upon no Occasion quit the Figure of Mediator. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 262 ¶6 Those who appear in the higher Figures of Life. 1721 De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 113 Your majesty..shall be served by me in any figure you please. |
b. One acting a part.
Obs. rare.
| 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. ccxxviii. 258 She was there as a fygure, a woman werynge that habyte without professyon of ordre. |
c. A person dressed in character.
Obs.| 1767 J. Penn Sleepy Serm. v, Horse-jockeys, Italian figures, rope-dancers, and ballad-singers. |
12. An emblem, type.
† in figure: in emblematical representation.
† to be in figure: to be typical.
† in figure to: emblematic
of.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxlvi. 8 He hilys halywrit wiþ figurs forto stire men to seke. c 1366 Chaucer A.B.C. 169 Ysaak was figure of his [Christ's] deth certeyn. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 697 Þe ship þat beres vs in þe se, Of haly kyrke þe figure be. 1497 Bp. Alcock Mons Perfect. A ij, This mount is in figure and sygnefyeth relygyon. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 385/1 Al thing vnto them came in figures. 1607–12 Bacon Ess. Counsel (Arb.) 312 The auncient tymes doe sett fourth in Figure..the incorporacion..of Councell with Kinges. 1637 Nabbes Microcosm. i. C, Oh gentle power..Figure of peace. 1647 J. Saltmarsh Sparkles Glory (1847) 149 A rest or peace in figure to that glory and fulness to be revealed in us. 1651 C. Cartwright Cert. Relig. i. 122 The Rock..was a Type and a Figure of Christ. 1730–6 in Bailey (folio). 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 453 It has long been usual to represent the imagination under the figure of a wing. |
III. Delineated or devised form; a design or pattern.
13. A delineation illustrating the text of a book; a diagram, an illustration. When used as a reference usually abbreviated to
fig. The L.
figura = Gr. σχῆµα as applied to mathematical diagrams; but the
mod. use is influenced by sense 9.
| c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. i. §3 For the more declaracioun, lo here the figure. 1545 T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde (1564) B ij, Not onely in wordes, but also in liuely and expresse fygures. 1551 Recorde Pathw. Knowl. ii. Pref., The charges in cuttyng of the figures. a 1660 W. Oughtred (title), Mathematicall Recreations, or a Collection of sundry Problemes..illustrated with divers Brasse Figures. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 173 As you see in the Figure at b. 1849 Sk. Nat. Hist., Mammalia IV. 113 Two figures of skulls (Fig. 71 and 72). 1851 P. L. Simmonds (title), Ure's Cotton Manufacture..in two volumes with one hundred and fifty original figures. 1885 C. Leudesdorf Cremona's Proj. Geom. 81 Let in the first figure a transversal m be drawn to cut a, b, c, d in A, B, C, D respectively. |
14. Astrol. A diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses; a horoscope.
a figure of heaven or the heavens: a scheme or table showing the disposition of the heavens at a given time.
to cast, erect, set a figure: see the
vbs.| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 79 He..Through his carectes and figures The maistry and the power hadde. 1610 B. Jonson Alch. iv. iv, By erection of her figure, I gest it. 1651 tr. Bacon's Life & Death 1 The Figures of Heaven, under which they were born. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. i. 455 He set a Figure to discover If you were fled to Rye or Dover. 1716 Addison Drummer ii. i, They are casting a figure. 1831 Brewster Newton (1855) I. ii. 21 He bought a book on Judicial Astrology..and in..perusing it he came to a figure of the Heavens. |
15. a. An arrangement of lines or other markings forming an ornamental device; one of the devices combined into a decorative pattern; also applied to similar markings produced by natural agency. Also
collect. † in figure: so as to form a pattern.
| 1597 Shakes. Lover's Compl. 17 Oft did she heave her napkin to her eyne..Laundering the silken figures in the brine. 1625 Bacon Ess. Friendship (Arb.) 175 It was well said..That speech was like Cloth of Arras, opened, and put abroad; Whereby the Imagery doth appeare in Figure; whereas in Thoughts, they lie but as in Packs. 1637 Milton Lycidas 105 His bonnet sedge, Inwrought with figures dim. 1665 G. Havers Sir T. Roe's Voy. E. Ind. 447 This Seal..the Great Mogul, either in a large, or lesser figure causeth to be put into all Firmanes. 1833 H. Martineau Loom & Lugger ii. vi. 118 A beautiful figure that velvet has, to be sure. 1855 Tennyson Brook 103 Sketching with her slender pointed foot Some figure..On garden gravel. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. i. 232 The luminous figure reflected from such a surface is exceedingly beautiful. |
| transf. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 426 Part more wise In common, rang'd in figure, wedge thir way. 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 10 Apr. (1861) I. 358 He..begins a sort of solemn dance. They all stand about him in a regular figure. |
b. spec. in wood (see
quots.).
| 1875 Trans. N.Z. Inst. VII. 185 The..point of insertion of the main lateral branches [of the kauri tree]..is cross-grained, the straight ‘grain’ of the lower part of the tree being twisted round the ‘knots’ into a great variety of..lines, and showing what cabinet-makers call ‘figure’. 1904 P. Macquoid Hist. Eng. Furnit. ii. 35 What is called ‘figure’ in oak was obtained by cutting the wood... This so-called figure in wood has the appearance of hard diagonal splashes. 1953 H. L. Edlin Forester's Handbk. ii. 29 The beautiful figure found in certain woods is simply a representation of the intricate structure of the timber. It varies according to the way in which the log is cut up. |
16. Dancing. One of the evolutions or movements of a dance or dancer; also, a set of evolutions; one of the divisions into which a set dance is divided.
| 1636 Massinger Gt. Dk. Florence iv. i, Keep your figure fair, And follow but the sample I shall set you. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) iii. xvii, Blundering in the figure all the way down a country dance. 1825 Anal. Lond. Ball-room 62 The figure and tune being selected, the M.C. should be informed of it. 1874 Mrs. H. Wood Mast. Greylands I. 84 Such was the commencement of the figure. |
17. Skating. ‘A movement, or series of movements, beginning and ending at the centre’ (
Badm. Libr., Skating 145). (In
quot. 1854 with
joc. allusion to sense 7.).
| 1854 J. R. Planché Camp at Olympic i. 18 Like a bold wench, resolved at any price To cut a figure, though it's but on ice. 1869 Vandervell & Witham Syst. Figure-skating ix. 164 To commence a figure the skaters stand opposite each other, as on the sides of a square. |
IV. A written character.
Cf. 15.
† 18. gen. Applied,
e.g., to a letter of the alphabet, the symbol of a musical note, a mathematical symbol, etc.
Obs.| 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. Annot., Figures in time shorter than minimes cannot be tied or enter in ligature. 1607 Shakes. Timon v. i. 157 Shall..write in thee the figures of their loue Euer to read them thine. Ibid. v. iii. 7 The Charracter Ile take with wax, Our Captaine hath in euery Figure skill. 1609 J. Dowland Ornithop. Microl. 39 A Breefe is a Figure, which hath a body foure-square, and wants a tayle {sqbreve}. 1660 Barrow Euclid ii. i. Schol., Seeing by reason of the figure—, that A is not [etc.]. |
19. a. A numerical symbol. Originally, and still chiefly, applied to the ten symbols of the so-called Arabic notation.
two (or double), three, four, etc. figures; a number amounting to ten or more, a hundred or more, a thousand or more, etc.; a sum of money indicated by such a number.
man of figures: one versed in arithmetic or statistics.
In Cricket, (
a)
phr. to get into or reach double or three figures = to make ten or a hundred runs; (
b) a bowler's average.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 214 Þe ȝiscare..makeð þerinne figures of augrim. c 1305 Edmund Conf. 223 in E.E.P. (1862) 77 Arsmetrike radde in cours..& his figours drouȝ aldai. c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 447 And recken with his figures ten. c 1425 Craft Nombrynge 1 In þis craft ben vsid teen figurys. 1542 Recorde Gr. Artes (1575) 42 There are but ten Figures, that are vsed in Arithmetike. 1600 T. Hill Arith. 5 b, The Cipher (for so the figure o is peculiarly named, although it be generally called and accompted as a figure). 1674 Playford Skill Mus. i. xi. 36 The Figures usually placed over Notes in the Thorough-Bass of Songs. 1746–7 Hervey Medit. (1818) 72 Arithmeticians have figures, to compute all the progressions of time. 1817 Tierney in Parl. Deb. 1357 The noble lord..could not disprove figures. 1884 Punch 5 Apr. 161/1 Mr. B., A.R.A., sends a ‘single figure’,—for which he asks three figures. 1884 Lillywhite's Cricket Ann. 64 Lancashire could not reach three figures either time. 1955 Times 9 May 15/1 His figures..were rather battered about by Perks, who hit him far and wide against the spin. |
b. figure of eight: see
eight 3. Also
attrib., as in
figure of eight bandage,
figure of eight shield,
figure of eight suture;
figure of eight moth: (see
quot.).
| 1604 Marston Malcontent iv. ii, [The brawl] Why, 'tis but singles on the left, two on the right..a figure of eight. 1815 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. I. 196 The figure-of-eight-moth (Bombyx cæruleocephala, F.). 1871 Holmes Syst. Surg. (ed. 2) V. 508 The figure of eight bandage is formed of a single continuous roller. 1939 J. D. S. Pendlebury Archaeol. Crete v. 271 The great figure-of-eight shield (ἠύτε πύργος) protected the warrior from the neck to the feet. 1958 L. Cottrell Anvil of Civilisation viii. 114 Such symbols as the Double-Axe, the Figure-of-Eight Shield, and the Trident, which figure prominently in Minoan buildings of the Middle Minoan period. |
c. figure (of) four: a trap for catching animals, the trigger of which is set in the shape of the figure 4. Also
figure four trap.
| 1743 J. Isham Observ. Hudson's Bay (1949) 162 One more trap their is a figure of 4 trap, which is 2 Logs Squar'd for the sides, and a Log for the top of one foot wide, which is call'd a figure of 4 trap. 1785 T. B. Hazard Diary 14 Feb. (1930) 76/2, I made and Sott atrap with a figger 4 for quails. 1834 J. J. Audubon Ornith. Biogr. II. 60 Many of these birds are frequently offered for sale.., they being easily caught in ‘figure-of-four traps’. 1838 J. C. Neal Charcoal Sks. I. 38 The most beautiful notions are all lost for want of a trap; an intellectual Figgery Four. 1862 Trans. Ill. Agric. Soc. (1865) V. 734 Boys..capture them by means of a ‘figure four’ trap. 1872 O. W. Holmes Poet. Breakf.-t. i. (1885) 10 Rabbits are entrapped in ‘figgery fours’. 1889 Farmer Americanisms, Figure Four, a hunter's trap for large game. Also called a dead-fall. 1919 H. L. Wilson Ma Pettengill viii. 243 Lew Wee..made a figure-four trap, and put something for bait on the pointed stick and set the trap. |
20. a. Hence, An amount, number, sum of money expressed in figures.
| 1842 Punch II. 118/2 He may put a better dessert upon his table at a lighter figure than now. 1848 Thackeray Bk. Snobs x, Accommodating a youngster..with a glandered charger at an uncommonly stiff figure. 1869 Tyndall Notes Lect. Light §127 The index of refraction..reached..so high a figure as 2.4. |
b. to do things on the big figure,
to go (or come) the big figure: see
big a. B. 2;
to go the whole figure U.S., to go the whole way; to act in a thoroughgoing fashion.
| 1834 Sun (N.Y.) 25 Mar. 2/3 (heading) Going the whole figure. 1839 Havana (N.Y.) Republ. 21 Aug. 369 (Th. s.v. hull), I was determined to go the hull figure, and see all. 1840 J. P. Kennedy Quodlibet (1872) xii. 180, I can tell you that he goes the whole figure against rotation in this individual..case. 1855 T. C. Haliburton Nat. & Hum. Nat. II. xii. 142 Sally was death on lace, and old Aunt Thankful goes the whole figure for furs. 1864 J. T. Trowbridge Cudjo's Cave iii. 37 The time may come when we will have to..go the whole figure with the free north, or drift with the cotton states. a 1916 H. James Ivory Tower (1917) 309 The..momentous season or scene,..in which she goes the whole figure. |
c. figure of merit: a general term for a numerical expression taken as representing the performance or efficiency of a device or material (see also
quot. 1865).
Cf. factor of merit (
factor n. 8 b).
| 1865 Brande & Cox Dict. Sci., Lit., & Art I. 889/1 Figure of merit, in rifle-shooting at a target, the number denoting the individual success of any rifle. 1881 H. R. Kempe Handbk. Electr. Testing (ed. 2) iii. 37 The degree of sensitiveness of any galvanometer, or its ‘figure of merit’, is determined by the amount of current which will produce one division or degree of deflection. 1911 Encycl. Brit. XXVII. 173/2 The hysteresis loss should not exceed 3·0 watts per kilogram of iron measured at a frequency of 50∼ and a flux-density of 10,000 lines per square centimetre. This is now called the ‘figure of merit’ of the iron. 1930 Engineering 7 Mar. 303/2 If figures of merit could be assigned for the various attributes of an engine..a collective efficiency or merit curve might be constructed. 1952 Drysdale & Jolley Electr. Measuring Instrum. (ed. 2) I. ii. 66 When an instrument has been designed, the designer wishes to have some criterion by which he can judge whether his design will be satisfactory in service. Some ‘figure of merit’ or means of judgment therefore appears to be necessary. 1958 Condon & Odishaw Handbk. Physics. iv. 109/1 Frequently the inverse of the loss tangent, the quality factor Q of the dielectric,..serves as the figure of merit, especially in waveguide problems. |
V. In various uses, representing the technical applications of
Gr. σχῆµα.
21. Rhet. a. Any of the various ‘forms’ of expression, deviating from the normal arrangement or use of words, which are adopted in order to give beauty, variety, or force to a composition;
e.g. Aposiopesis, Hyperbole, Metaphor, etc. Also,
figure of speech.
| c 1386 Chaucer Clerk's Prol. 16 Your termes, your coloures, and your figures, Kepe hem in store, til [etc.]. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. vii. (Arb.) 166 Figures be the instruments of ornament in euery language. 1596 Harington Metam. Ajax (1814) 11 And minding to speak it shorter, by the figure of abbreviation. 1609 Bible (Douay) Ps. cxiii. Comm., By the figure Apostrophe he speaketh to the sea, river, and hilles. c 1633 Hobbes Rhet. (1840) 519 A figure is garnishing of speech in words, or in a sentence. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. Pref. (1848) 22 That noble Figure of Rhetorick call'd Hyperbole. 1766 Chesterfield Lett. 188 The Egotism is the usuall and favourite figure of most people's Rhetorick. 1824 L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 486 Figures of Speech imply some departure from simplicity of expression. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 161 The proverb ‘as many slaves, so many enemies’ was, in their case, no figure of rhetoric but the stern and simple truth. |
b. In a more restricted sense (with mixture of senses 9 and 12): A metaphor or metaphorical mode of expression; an image, similitude.
| 1435 Misyn Fire of Love 3 Þe flaume, whilk vndyr fygure I cald fyer. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 1 Declareth it by the similitude and fygure of the passage of the chyldren of Israel from Egypte. 1611 Bible 1 Cor. iv. 6 These things..I haue in a figure transferred to my selfe. 1727 Pope, etc. Art of Sinking 77 That..destroyer of fine figures, which is known by the name of common sense. 1782 Priestley Corrupt. Chr. I. ii. 156 [These] expressions have much the air of figure and allusion. 1855 G. Brimley Ess. 44 Simile and figure may be regarded as a natural short hand. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 96 The old Pythagorean ethical symbols still exist as figures of speech among ourselves. |
22. a. Grammar. Any of the permitted deviations from the normal forms of words (
e.g. Aphæresis, Syncope, Elision), or from the ordinary rules of construction (
e.g. Ellipsis).
† Formerly also
figure of speech.
| 1669 Milton Accedence Wks. 1851 VI. 467 Words are sometimes encreast or diminisht by a Letter or Syllable..which are call'd Figures of Speech. 1721–1800 in Bailey. |
b. pl. The name of the first form in certain Jesuit schools and colleges, divided into High (or
† Great) and Low (or
† Little) Figures: corresponding to the Rudiments or Accidence of other places.
| 1629 Wadsworth Pilgr. iii. 12, I was promoted to the first forme called the Figures. 1713 in B. Ward Hist. St. Edmund's Coll. (1893) iv. 58 What we call the Accidence they call Figures, which they divide into two years, one for the lower, the second for the higher. 1716 M. Davies Athen. Brit. III. 2 Their Humanity-Schools..are sub-divided, and call'd Little Figures..then great Figures or Rudiments. 1786 T. Haydock Let. 12 Jan. in J. Gillow Haydock Papers (1888) 83 He was in low-figures before. 1893 B. Ward Hist. St. Edmund's Coll. iv. 58 The two classes of ‘Figures’ were changed very shortly after this [1713] into three classes of ‘Rudiments’... At Ushaw the older title of ‘Figures’ is now in use. 1913 Ushaw Mag. Dec. 170 The Rev. William Lamb, who for a year had taught High Figures as a professor. 1951 Ibid. Mar. 60 Low Figures Historical Society is now in its ninth year. |
23. Logic. (See
quot. 1837–8.)
| 1551 Wilson Logike (1567) 286 Examples of the firste figure and the modes thereof. 1589 Pappe w. Hatchet B b, 'Tis neither in moode nor figure. 1628 T. Spencer Logick 258 Aristotle delivers the forme of Syllogismes..and divides them into three figures. 1663 Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 141 A Reverend Father..has put Mr. Cressy's rhapsody into mode and figure. 1708 Swift Sacramental Test, As to that argument..I wonder by what figure those gentlemen speak. 1837–8 Sir W. Hamilton Logic xx. (1866) I. 400 The forms determined by the different position of the middle term..in the premises of a syllogism, are called figures,—a name given to them by Aristotle. |
24. Mus. ‘Any short succession of notes, either as melody or a group of chords, which produces a single, complete, and distinct impression’ (Grove).
| 1884 R. Prentice Musician III. 29 The first Invention is founded entirely on the opening eight-note figure. |
VI. attrib. and
Comb. 25. a. simple
attrib. (sense 10), as
figure-action,
figure-art,
figure-artist,
figure-composition,
figure-incident,
figure-painting,
figure-picture,
figure-piece,
figure-sculpture,
figure-study,
figure-subject.
b. objective (sense 4), as
figure-training; (sense 10), as
figure-painter; (senses 10, 15) as
figure-carver,
figure carving,
figure-stamper,
figure-weaving.
| 1860 Ruskin Mod. Paint. V. ix. i. 198 Heroic [landscape]..is frequently without architecture; never without *figure-action, or emotion..Contemplative [landscape]..requires.. *figure incident. |
| 1903 Burlington Mag. Sept.–Oct. 3/1 Poetry and the *figure arts seldom keep pace in their evolution. |
| 1857 ‘C. Bede’ Verdant Green III. ii. 12 Young-lady *figure-artists, who usually limit their efforts to chalk-heads and crayon smudges. |
| 1935 Burlington Mag. Nov. 211/1 In the sphere of *figure-composition and light-treatment. |
| 1868 G. Stephens Runic Mon. II. 511 The *figure-stampers and *figure carvers of the Early and still more of the Later Iron Age. |
| 1849 Southey Comm.-pl. Bk. Ser. ii. 345 To cut up a fowl in the air..This sort of *figure-carving implies abominable cookery. |
| 1770 J. Wedgwood Let. 12 May (1965) 92 The fine *figure Painters are another order of beings. 1947 Wyndham Lewis Let. Apr. 405 Down a third [road]..the figure of a figure-painter. |
| 1873 Hamerton Intell. Life vii. 239 The wife is with you always..the world, to you, is a *figure-picture in which there is one figure, the rest is merely background. |
| 1816 Jane Austen Emma I. vi. 86 Has not Mrs. Weston some inimitable *figure-pieces in her drawing-room? 1864 A. McKay Hist. Kilmarnock (ed. 4) 250 He excelled..in..landscapes, and figure-pieces. |
| 1874 J. T. Micklethwaite Mod. Par. Churches 111 Whether or not *figure-sculpture ought to be employed in ecclesiastical architecture. |
| 1884 Ruskin in Pall Mall G. 10 Dec. 11/1 The vast irruption of sensual *figure-study. |
| 1877 W. Jones Finger-ring 374 An ivory patch-box, with *figure-subject carved in relief. |
| 1871 (title), *Figure Training. |
| 1831 G. Porter Silk Manuf. 234 *Figure-weaving is the art of producing various patterns in the cloth. |
26. Special comb.:
figure-maker, (
a) one who casts or moulds figures; (
b) a maker of wooden anatomical models for artists;
figure-servant,
nonce-wd., a commercial clerk;
figure-six a. (see
quot. 1851);
figure-skater, one who practises figure-skating;
figure-skating, the art or practice of skating in figures (see
figure n. 17);
figure-stone (
Min.)
= agalmatolite. Also
figure-caster,
figure-dance,
figure-flinger, etc.
| 1769 J. Wedgwood Let. 25 June (1965) 76 If we get these painters, and the *figure makers, we shall do pretty well in those branches. |
| 1850 J. H. Newman Diffic. Anglic. 205 Operatives, journeymen, *figure-servants and labourers. |
| 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 36/2 The hair, they [coster-lads] say ought to be..done in *figure-six curls. |
| 1892 T. M. Witham Figure-skating in Skating (Badm. Libr.) iii. 45 Dry cracks..are very dangerous to the *figure-skater. |
| 1852 H. Spencer Gracefulness Ess. 1891 II. 384 Early attempts..in *figure-skating, are..fatiguing. 1892 T. M. Witham Figure-skating in Skating (Badm. Libr.) iii. 57 A figure-skating club..the members of which are mostly English. |
| 1805 R. Jameson Char. Min. II. 604 It is brought from China, and has received the name *Figure-stone. 1852 L. Oliphant Journey to Katamandu 174 Amongst other minerals are corundum, figure-stone, and talc. |
Add:
[III.] [17.] b. Swimming. A set movement or pattern made by a group of swimmers floating in the water, for display or in competition.
Cf. figure floating below.
| 1931 Swimming & Swimming Strokes (Amat. Swimming Assoc.) 104 The figures should be as symmetrical as possible. 1986 Swimming Times Sept. 42/1 Then it was straight into the water for figure practice with the competition commencing at 10.00 am. |
[VI.] [26.] figure floating Swimming, the formation of set patterns or figures by a group of swimmers floating in the water (see sense *17 b above).
| 1931 Swimming & Swimming Strokes (Amat. Swimming Assoc.) 100 There is a large, unexploited field in *figure floating. By this is meant the formation of patterns by human bodies floating horizontally. 1972 M. A. Jarvis Enjoy Swimming vii. 99 A combination of figure floating and stroke patterns can make an effective and enjoyable display item. |
▸
figure-hugging adj. that fits closely the contours of the body.
| 1916 Washington Post 18 Mar. 7/1 The Norfolk models this spring are new and distinctive; they have a well tailored appearance and a *figure-hugging military fit. 1960 Times 25 July 13/2 A soft, flowing line, still unfitted in the sense of not being figure hugging. 2002 C. Newland Snakeskin xi. 136 The girl next to her was a blonde and blue-eyed cutie, dressed in figure-hugging jeans and a boob tube, no older than twenty. |
▪ II. figure, v. (
ˈfɪgə(r),
-jʊə(r))
[f. prec. n.; cf. OF. (and mod.Fr.) figurer (= Pr. and Sp. figurar, It. figurare, ad. L. figūrāre, f. figūra figure n.), which is probably the source of some of the senses.] † 1. a. trans. To give figure to; to form, shape; to bring into shape.
Obs.| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 2151 The faireste fygured folde that fygurede was ever. 1555 Eden Decades 261 The damme..by lyttle and lyttle figurethe the informe byrthe. 1645 Evelyn Mem. (1819) I. 186 Piedestals exquisitely cast and figur'd. c 1790 J. Imison Sch. Art II. 155 The bed of hones should be..very little larger than the metal intended to be figured upon it. |
b. With complement: To shape into; also to shape
into (a specified form).
Obs.| c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. lxxii. (1869) 42 Flesh and blood it is in sooth, but bred it and wyn it is figured. 1626 Bacon Sylva §352 Some [shining wood] was found to be Firm and hard; so as it might be figured into a Cross. |
2. a. To represent in a diagram or picture.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 456 Þo holy Trinity in no manere schulde be fygurid..in þat fourme by whiche comynly hit is peyntid. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. i. §9 Next this folwyth the cercle of the dayes that ben figured in maner of degrees. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode iv. ii. (1869) 175 Ordeyned j haue that peynted it [the beste] be heere and figured. c 1500 Melusine 364 Ryche pictures where as were fygured many a noble hystory. 1591 Spenser Muiop. 277 Arachne figur'd how love did abuse Europa like a bull. 1776 Withering Brit. Plants (1796) IV. 111 Fucus fastigiatus of Wulfen, figured in Jacq. coll. iii. 14. 2, is perhaps the plant of Linnæus. 1814 Wordsw. White Doe of Ryl. ii. 20 The sacred Cross; and figured there The five dear wounds our Lord did bear. 1851 Carpenter Man. Phys. (ed. 2) 531 The Perch, whose Encephalon is here figured. 1882 Minchin Unipl. Kinemat. 17 Some such curve as that figured. |
b. To trace, mark (a design, letter, etc.).
| 1526 Tindale 2 Cor. iii. 7 The ministracion of deeth thorowe the letters figured in stones. 1801 Southey Thalaba v. xii, Whose windows lay in light, And of their former shape..Rude outline on the earth Figured. |
3. To picture in the mind; to imagine. Const. with simple
compl. and object clause.
(Sometimes
to figure to oneself:
cf. F.
se figurer.)
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. i. ii. 53 Thou art alwayes figuring diseases in me; but..I am sound. 1637 Nabbes Microcosm. 111, I am transform'd into a happiness Cannot be figured. 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Lett. (1861) I. 367 He..had..already figured his bride to himself with all the deformities in nature. 1760 H. Walpole Corr. (ed. 3) III. cccxlvii. 332 You cannot figure a duller season. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. i. 2 In all speculations they have tacitly figured Man as a Clothed Animal. 1851 ― Sterling i. iv. (1872) 27, I figure him a brilliant..creature. 1868 Airy Pop. Astron. iii. 123 There is no difficulty at all in figuring to ourselves..that [etc.]. 1886 Mrs. E. Lynn Linton Paston Carew xlii, All the pains and griefs his imagination had ever figured. |
4. To portray or represent by speech or action.
| 1475 Bk. Noblesse 21 Aventurous dedis that Hercules, as it is figured..in..the .v. booke of Boecius, toke uppon him. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, i. ii. 194 Anne. I would I knew thy heart. Glo. 'Tis figur'd in my tongue. 1634 Ford P. Warbeck i. i, Thy heart Is figur'd on thy tongue. a 1668 ? Davenant in Dryden Prose Wks. 1800 I. ii. 214 An heroic poem should be..like a glass of nature, figuring a more practicable virtue to us than was done by the ancients. 1894 R. H. Sherard in Westm. G. 13 June 2/1 The aficionados do all in their power to figure a Spanish audience..but these simulated enthusiasms have but a hollow ring. |
† 5. ‘To prefigure, foreshow’ (J.).
Obs.| 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. i. 32 Three glorious Sunnes, each one a perfect Sunne..In this, the Heauen figures some euent. |
6. To be an image, symbol, or type of; to represent typically.
| 1401 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 63 Two perfit lyves, that actif and contemplatif comounli ben callid, ffulli figurid by Marie and Martha. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 10 These sexe vertuhs be fyguryd mystyly In the sexe wengys..Of the cherubyns. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 250 The body of her blyssed sonne..was fygured by the sayde arke. 1604 Dekker King's Entert. Wks. 1873 I. 280 A Personage, figuring, The Counsell of the City. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxxii. 129 This boy leaned on his elbow upon the Chaems chair and figured mercy. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 593 Soft Peace they [olives] figure, and sweet Plenty bring. |
† 7. To display the form of; to exhibit a resemblance to.
Obs.| 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 34 Birdes tongue is an Herbe..It figureth the tong of a Birde, whereof it hath his name. In his top it figureth a taile to looke to. 1779 Forrest Voy. N. Guinea 54 A high island..which remarkably figures a cock's comb. |
† 8. To represent as resembling; to liken (a person or thing)
to (another).
Obs.| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 118 Taurus..figured is Unto a bulle. 1520 Caxton's Chron. Eng. iii. 24 b/1 This man was cursed every ynche, and therfore he was fygured to Ante⁓cryst. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cccxcix. 691 Sermons made..figurynge them to the people of Israell, whome kynge Pharaon kepte long in seruytude. |
9. † a. To predicate in a metaphorical sense (
obs.).
b. To express by a metaphor or image.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶922 (Ellesmere) Mariage is figured betwixe Crist and holy chirche. 1836 Emerson Nat., Prospects Wks. (Bohn) II. 171 The difference..is happily figured by the schoolmen, in saying that the knowledge of man is an evening knowledge..but that of God is a morning knowledge. 1857 Buckle Civiliz. I. vii. 225 That image of desolation under which the noble old man figured his immeasurable grief. |
† 10. To frame (a discourse) according to rhetorical figures; to adorn with figures of speech.
Obs.| 1652 Urquhart Jewel Wks. (1834) 292 Ironical..cromatick, or any other way of figuring a speech by opposition, being formules of oratory. 1727 Bailey vol. II. s.v. Figures (Theatrical), Orators..figure their Discourses. |
11. To adorn or mark with figures; to embellish or ornament with a design or pattern.
| 1480 Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV (1830) 116 Blue velvet figured with tawny. 1595 Shakes. John v. ii. 53 Had I seene the vaultie top of heauen Figur'd quite ore with burning Meteors. 1609 Bible (Douay) Isa. xl. 19 Hath the goldsmith figured it with gold? 1725 Pope Odyss. iv. 808 A goblet of capacious mold, Figur'd with art to dignify the gold. 1883 Truth 31 May 769/2 Crimson satin, figured with velvet flowers. |
12. a. trans. to mark with (numerical) figures; to express or indicate by figures. Also,
† to figure (a sum of money) on (a person): (
slang) to total up against.
| 1683 Dryden & Lee Duke of Guise v. 11 So what was figured twelve, to thy dull sight Appeared full twenty-one. 1773 Gentl. Mag. XLIII. 654 His antagonist..figured on him (as his phrase is) at the game of two-handed whist, about {pstlg}200. 1781 Cowper Let. to J. Hill 3 Oct., Your draft is worded for twenty pounds, and figured for twenty-one. |
b. intr. To use figures in arithmetic. Also
trans.:
to figure up (also with
down): to reckon up with figures; to reckon, calculate, understand, ascertain. Also with
obj. clause, and
absol.,
esp. in
colloq. phr. it (or that) figures, it is reasonable, likely, or understandable; it makes sense (
orig. and chiefly
U.S.).
to figure out: see 15 c.
| 1854 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. iii. (1858) 52 He wrote and figured well. 1865 Congress. Globe 9 Feb. 671/3, I have not figured the number of square miles that there will be. 1884 Bread Winners 245 I'll figure it all up and take my pay. 1891 Fur, Fin & Feather Mar. 170 By this time Sagebrush and I had got the whole thing figured down pretty fine in our own minds. 1901 Chambers's Jrnl. Sept. 633/1 Only this morning I was figuring that the work should bring us enough to put all straight and sow next year again. 1913 N.Y. Even. Post 8 Sept. 1/6 Yale men figure that the bones have lain where found from 5,000 to 20,000 years. 1935 R. Stout League of Frightened Men xiii. 155, I couldn't figure the runt at all. 1947 [see get v. 74 c]. 1952 B. Wolfe Limbo (1953) iv. 213 That figures, all right... It's kind of a startling idea, but it figures. 1967 Boston Sunday Herald 30 Apr. iii. 10/4 Everyone has to figure her own way. 1969 C. Watson Flaxborough Crab iii. 33 ‘She's not complained to us.’ ‘That figures.’ 1970 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 26 Sept. 40/4 As Champlain's party cut a wide swath through these parts, it figures that a calling card was left behind in the naming of a lake. |
(
b)
to figure on or
figure upon (
fig.): to think over, consider; to count on, anticipate, expect.
U.S.| 1837 Congress. Globe App. 247/1, I..cannot understand the Secretary's report. I figured upon its data until I threw down my slate in despair. 1877 Bartlett Dict. Amer. (ed. 4) s.v., ‘Figure on that’ means to consider it; to think it over. Western. 1904 G. S. Porter Freckles 241 In figuring on their not coming that day he failed to reckon with the enthusiasm of the Bird Woman. 1905 Smart Set Oct. 17/1 But I'm figurin' on gettin' hold of some more land. 1906 N.Y. Even. Post 13 Oct. 5 He is not figuring on any extensive defection on their part. 1907 Smart Set Feb. 96, I hadn't figured on that. 1909 N.Y. Even. Post 7 Jan. (Th.), We always figure on supplying more lenses in July and August than in all the rest of the year. 1911 Chambers's Jrnl. Jan. 57/1 My brother and I have never figured on building large passenger-carrying machines. 1934 J. W. Hutchison North to Rime-Ringed Sun x. 104 Ira had ‘figured’ (as they say in Alaska) on landing to trade at a native house. |
c. trans. Mus. To write figures over or under (the bass) in order to indicate the intended harmony.
Cf. figured ppl. a. 7.
| 1674 Playford Skill Mus. iii. 5 You find here only mentioned and figured a third, fifth, and eighth. 1881 G. A. Macfarren Counterpoint v. 20 It is recommended to figure the bass throughout these exercises. |
13. intr. Dancing. To perform a figure or set of evolutions (see
figure n. 16). Also,
to figure away, down, out (see 15 d).
| 1744 Coll. Country Dances 2 Foot it again and half figure. 1780 Cowper Progr. Err. 366 We..Teach him to fence and figure twice a week. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk., Christmas Eve (1865) 251 The squire himself figured down several couple with a partner. 1828 Longfellow in Life (1891) I. 139 One passing regret that he cannot..figure away in the dance with the best of them. |
14. intr. a. To make an appearance, to appear; often with
as: To appear in the character of, stand for; also, to look like.
† to figure for: (
a) to pose as a claimant for, pretend to;(
b) to stand for, represent.
to figure in: to come upon the scene.
Cf. figure n. 6.
| 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. x. lvii. (1612) 253 The Duke of Guize, who earst had figur'd for the Crowne. 1634 D'Avenant Temple of Love Dram. Wks. 1872 I. 287 On the other side an Asiatique in the habit of an Indian borderer..figured for the Asian monarchy. 1762 Goldsm. Nash 50 When he first figured at Bath, there were few laws against this destructive amusement. 1812 H. & J. Smith Rej. Addr. xvii. (1873) 162 Like great Jove, the leader figuring in, Attunes to order the chaotic din. 1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 106 note, This gentleman..formerly figured as shopman at an oil warehouse. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey ii. xiii, On the door of one of the shabbiest houses in Jermyn Street the name of Mr. Stapylton Toad for a long time figured. 1837 ― Venetia i. viii, The intervening woods figured as the forests of Thessaly. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 11 One of those robust and incisive constitutions, to which doubt figures as a sickness. 1893 Law Times XCIV. 454/1 Propositions of this kind will not figure upon the Statute-book yet awhile. |
b. To make a distinguished appearance; to be conspicuous or notable. Also,
to figure away, off: to ‘show off’.
Cf. figure n. 7.
| 1736 Bolingbroke Patriot. (1749) iii. 233 Persons who figured afterwards in the rebellion. 1762 Churchill Ghost iv, Whilst my Lord figur'd at a race. 1771 F. Burney Early Diary 8 May (1889) I. 112 Dr. King..came in and figured away to his own satisfaction before Mr. Garrick. 1803 T. Jefferson Writ. (1830) III. 501 We shall get entangled in European politics, and figuring more, be much less happy. 1812 Foster Let. 7 Feb., in Life & Corr. (1846) I. lxxxv. 426 Without obtaining, against the monopolists of the bar, even the opportunity of fairly figuring off in this jabber. 1814 Chalmers Evid. Chr. Revel. v. 147 Such a testimony would have figured away in all our elementary treatises. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 236/1 Yorkshire then begins to figure as a cloth-making county. |
15. figure out.
† a. trans. To display or exhibit in visionary forms or shapes. Also, To exhibit obscurely, shadow forth.
Obs.| 1602 Daniel Hymen's Tri. iii. ii, No Time..for me to..leave for Sleep to figure out the rest. 1721 R. Keith tr. T. à Kempis' Solil. Soul xiii. 207 If.. thou dost figure out by such a Document..somewhat..both just and reasonable. |
† b. To portray, represent.
| 1657 W. Rand tr. Gassendi's Life Peiresc i. 59 He never..refused to suffer himself to be painted or figured out in a Statue. 1702 Addison Dial. Medals Wks. 1721 I. 490 The Emperor..holds a Globe in his hand, to figure out the Earth. |
c. To work out (a sum) by means of figures; more widely, to estimate or calculate; hence, to work out, make out. Chiefly
U.S.| 1833 C. A. Davis Lett. J. Downing (1834) 41 As I said before, I'm stump'd about that Bank of U.S.; and I want you to help me figure it out. 1873 C. H. Smith Bill Arp's Peace Papers 32 Matthy Mattiks nor his daddy couldn't figger out how long it will take you to get through accordin to your feebul progress. 1884 Punch 15 Mar. 125/1 Whitewash..on which you could..figure out a sum. 1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms xlvii, We took a couple of days figuring it out at the Hollow. Starlight had a map, and we plotted it out, and marked all the stages which could be safely made. 1902 G. H. Lorimer Lett. Merchant i. 5 You can't have to be very bright to figure out which one started the demand. 1903 N.Y. Sun 1 Nov. 5 The telegraph lines began to have trouble, and for a while the experts couldn't figure out what was the matter. 1905 Smart Set Oct. 17/2 ‘I'll figure it out after a while,’ he said. ‘It ain't exactly worryin' me sick yet.’ 1910 W. M. Raine B. O'Connor 12 Now, this is how I figured it out. 1919 H. Jenkins John Dene of Toronto x. 156, I don't seem to be able to figure things out here as I did at T'ronto. 1966 ‘J. Hackston’ Father clears Out 87, I figured it out that he was staring at the top of the old gumtree opposite. |
d. intr. To step out and perform a figure in dancing.
| 1753 Foote Eng. in Paris i. Wks. 1799 I. 36 When 'twas her turn to figure out, souse she flapp'd on her back. |