figurative
UK[ˈfɪɡ.ər.ə.tɪv]US[ˈfɪɡ.jɚ.ə.t̬ɪv]
adj
(of language) used not with its basic, literal meaning, but in a way that creates a vivid image or suggests a different association.
adj
(of art) representing forms that are recognizably derived from life but not attempting exact visual likeness.
Morpheme Breakdown
figur
ative
figur
form, shape
ative
adjective-forming suffix
Etymology
The word 'figurative' traces its lineage to the Latin figura, meaning a shape, form, or representation, which itself derives from the verb fingere, to shape or form. The core semantic journey is from the concrete act of physically shaping something to the abstract concept of representing meaning through linguistic or artistic forms. The suffix -ative attaches to this root, creating an adjective that describes something characterized by this act of shaping or representing. Thus, 'figurative' language is language that has been "shaped" or "formed" into a non-literal image, while 'figurative' art represents "forms" derived from, but not identical to, reality.
Analysis
Structure: figur (form, shape) + ative (adjective-forming suffix)
- figur: From Latin figura (form, shape, figure). It functions as the core root conveying the sense of a form or representation.
- ative: A suffix of Latin origin (-ativus), used to form adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by" the action or quality of the root.
Examples
The phrase "a heart of stone" is a figurative expression for someone who is unfeeling.
The poet used figurative language, like metaphors and similes, to convey her emotions.
His later paintings moved from realism to a more figurative style, with distorted human shapes.