full-figured
UK[ˌfʊl ˈfɪɡəd]US[ˌfʊl ˈfɪɡjərd]
adj
Having a relatively large or heavy body shape; plump or curvaceous, often used as a euphemistic or positive description of a woman's body.
Morpheme Breakdown
full
figure
ed
full
complete
figure
shape
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
The compound adjective "full-figured" is a modern, primarily 20th-century construction that employs native English and Latinate elements to create a descriptive term. The core noun "figure," tracing back to Latin figūra (a shape, form), carries the primary meaning of bodily shape. The intensifier "full," from Old English, is appended to suggest completeness or abundance in that shape. The adjectival suffix "-ed" then converts the noun phrase into a descriptive attribute. This term emerged within fashion and marketing lexicons as a euphemistic alternative to words like "plump" or "heavy," reflecting a societal shift towards more positive or neutral descriptors for non-slender body types, thus layering a modern social meaning onto its literal morphological components.
Analysis
Structure: full (complete) + figure (shape) + ed (adjective suffix)
full: From Old English full, meaning "containing all that can be held; complete, entire." It functions as an intensifier/modifier in this compound.
figure: From Latin figūra ("shape, form, figure"), via Old French. It functions as the core noun denoting physical form.
ed: A suffix from Old English -ede, -od, used to form adjectives from nouns, meaning "having, provided with, characterized by."
Examples
The brand has expanded its line to include clothing for full-figured women.
She is a confident and stylish full-figured model.
The article discussed the importance of representation for full-figured individuals in media.