Chapter Figuline to File of F by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Figuline to File

Figuline
(Fig"u*line) n. [F., fr. L. figulina pottery, fr. figulus. See Figulate.] A piece of pottery ornamented with representations of natural objects.

Whose figulines and rustic wares
Scarce find him bread from day to day.

Longfellow.

Figurability
(Fig`ur*a*bil"i*ty) n. [Cf. F. figurabilité.] The quality of being figurable. Johnson.

Figurable
(Fig`ur*a*ble) a. [L. figurare to form, shape, fr. figura figure: cf. F. figurable. See Figure.] Capable of being brought to a fixed form or shape.

Lead is figurable, but water is not.

Johnson.

Figural
(Fig"ur*al) a. [From Figure.]

1. Represented by figure or delineation; consisting of figures; as, figural ornaments. Sir T. Browne.

2. (Mus.) Figurate. See Figurate.

Figural numbers. See Figurate numbers, under Figurate.

Figurant
(Fig"u*rant`) n. masc. [F., prop. p. pr. of figurer figure, represent, make a figure.] One who dances at the opera, not singly, but in groups or figures; an accessory character on the stage, who figures in its scenes, but has nothing to say; hence, one who figures in any scene, without taking a prominent part.

Figurante
(Fig"u*rante`) n. fem. [F.] A female figurant; esp., a ballet girl.

Figurate
(Fig"ur*ate) a. [L. figuratus, p. p. of figurare. See Figure.]

1. Of a definite form or figure.

Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate bodies are not.

Bacon.

2. Figurative; metaphorical. [Obs.] Bale.

3. (Mus.) Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as, figurate counterpoint or descant.

Figurate counterpointor descant (Mus.), that which is not simple, or in which the parts do not move together tone for tone, but in which freer movement of one or more parts mingles passing discords with the harmony; — called also figural, figurative, and figured counterpoint or descant (although the term figured is more commonly applied to a bass with numerals written above or below to indicate the other notes of the harmony). — Figurate numbers (Math.), numbers, or series of numbers, formed from any arithmetical progression in which the first term is a unit, and the difference a whole number, by taking the first term, and the sums of the first two, first three, first four, etc., as the successive terms of a new series, from which another may be formed in the same manner, and so on, the numbers in the resulting series being such that points representing them are capable of symmetrical arrangement in different geometrical figures, as triangles, squares, pentagons, etc. In the following example, the two lower lines are composed of figurate numbers, those in the second line being triangular, and represented thus: —

. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. . . . 1, 3, 6, 10, etc. . . . . . . . etc. 1, 4, 10, 20, etc . . . . . . . . . . . .

Figurated
(Fig"ur*a`ted) a. Having a determinate form.

Figurately
(Fig"ur*ate*ly) adv. In a figurate manner.

Figuration
(Fig`u*ra"tion) n. [L. figuratio.]