figure
UK[ˈfɪɡə(r)]US[ˈfɪɡjər]
n
A number representing an amount, especially in official statistics.
n
The shape or form of a person's body.
n
A person seen indistinctly or from a distance.
n
A diagram or illustrative drawing in a book or document.
n
A person of a particular kind, especially a well-known one.
v
To appear or be included in something.
v
To think or conclude something.
Etymology
The word 'figure' has a rich history tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root dheigh-, which carried the fundamental sense of shaping or forming a substance like clay. This concept evolved into the Latin 'figūra', a term that broadly denoted the external form, shape, or contour of an object. Borrowed into English via Old French, the word's meaning expanded metaphorically from physical shape to include numerical symbols (shaped marks), diagrams, and eventually prominent persons (shaped by their reputation). Thus, the modern abstract meanings of numerical data, illustrative drawings, and important individuals all stem logically from this ancient root idea of giving something a distinct form.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It entered English from Old French 'figure', which derived from Latin 'figūra' meaning "shape, form, figure." The Latin term likely originates from the PIE root dheigh-, meaning "to form, build, knead (clay)."
Examples
The latest employment figures show a positive trend.
She has a slender figure.
A shadowy figure emerged from the fog.