figure (subs.) Copy link Outline I. Shape, outline1. fĭgūra (most gen. term)2. făcies, ēi (of human beings)3. forma (any form)4. conformātio, Cic.II. In painting or sculpture1. signum (representation of something)2. ty̆pus (in relief)3. emblēma, ătis (a kind of moveable figured decoration)III. In rhetoric1. fĭgūra (including any f. of speech)2. translātio (a metaphor) • figure (subs.): I. Shape, outline: 1. fĭgūra (most gen. term): the human f. surpasses the form of all other animals, omnium animantium formam vincit hominis f., Cic. N. D. 1, 18, 48: v. shape. 2. făcies, ēi (of human beings): the beautiful woman is she whose entire f. wins admiration, formosa est cujus universa f. admirationem abstulit, Sen. Ep. 33, 5: esp. of the face, q. v. 3. forma (any form): the female f., muliebris f., Cic. Inv. 2, 1, 1: v. form. Mathemat.: (Archimedes) intent on the f.s he had drawn in the dust, intentus formis quas in pulvere descripserat, Liv. 25, 31: v. diagram. 4. conformātio, Cic.: v. shape. Phr.: to cut a f., partes agere (to play a part): what a f. he cut, *qualem personam et quam indignam suscepit! v. character (VI.). II. In painting or sculpture: 1. signum (representation of something): a f. painted on the wall, s. pictum in pariete, Pl. Merc. 2, 2, 44: a robe stiff with (embroidered) f.s and gold, palla signis auroque rigida, Virg. Aen. 1, 648: see also statue. Dimin. sĭgilla, orum (only pl.), small f.s: a dish with admirable f.s, patella in qua s. erant egregia, Cic. Verr. 4, 22, 48: adorned with such f.s, sigillatus, Cic. Verr. 4, 14, 32. 2. ty̆pus (in relief): f.s to let into plaster, typi qui in tectorio possint includi, Cic. Att. 1, 10: Plin. 3. emblēma, ătis (a kind of moveable figured decoration): Cic.: v. Dict. Ant. s. v. III. In rhetoric: 1. fĭgūra (including any f. of speech): Quint. 9, 1, 1. 2. translātio (a metaphor): f.s were introduced through poverty of speech, verbi tr. instituta est inopiae causa, Cic. de Or. 3, 38, 155: v. figurative, figuratively.