Chapter 591

Figurate counterpoint ∨ 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 <Xpage=558>

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

Figurately <Xpage=558>

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

Figuration <Xpage=558>

Fig`u*ra"tion (?) , n. [L. figuratio .] 1. The act of giving figure or determinate form; determination to a certain form.

Bacon.

2. (Mus.) Mixture of concords and discords.

Figurative <Xpage=558>

Fig"ur*a*tive (?) , a. [L. figurativus : cf. F. figuratif . See Figurative .] 1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative.

This, they will say, was figurative , and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity. Hooker.

2. Used in a sense that is tropical, as a metaphor; not literal; -- applied to words and expressions.

3. Ambounding in figures of speech; flowery; florid; as, a highly figurative description .

4. Relating to the representation of form or figure by drawing, carving, etc. See Figure , n. , 2.

They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they wrote for a public familiar with painted form. J. A. Symonds.

Figurative counterpoint <???/ &or; descant . See under Figurate .

-- Fig"ur*a*tive*ly , adv. -- Fig"ur*a*tive*ness , n.

Figure <Xpage=558>

Fig"ure (?; 135) , n. [F., figure , L. figura ; akin to fingere to form, shape, feign. See Feign .] 1. The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance.

Flowers have all exquisite figures . Bacon.

2. The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modeling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body; as, a figure in bronze; a figure cut in marble.

A coin that bears the figure of an angel. Shak.

3. A pattern in cloth, paper, or other manufactured article; a design wrought out in a fabric; as, the muslin was of a pretty figure .

4. (Geom.) A diagram or drawing; made to represent a magnitude or the relation of two or more magnitudes; a surface or space inclosed on all sides; -- called superficial when inclosed by lines, and solid when inclosed by surface; any arrangement made up of points, lines, angles, surfaces, etc.

5. The appearance or impression made by the conduct or carrer of a person; as, a sorry figure .

I made some figure there. Dryden.

Gentlemen of the best figure in the county. Blackstone.

6. Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendor; show.

That he may live in figure and indulgence. Law.

7. A character or symbol representing a number; a numeral; a digit; as, 1, 2,3, etc.

8. Value, as expressed in numbers; price; as, the goods are estimated or sold at a low figure . [Colloq.]

With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest figure . Thackeray.

9. A person, thing, or action, conceived of as analogous to another person, thing, or action, of which it thus becomes a type or representative.

Who is the figure of Him that was to come. Rom. v. 14.

10. (Rhet.) A mode of expressing abstract or immaterial ideas by words which suggest pictures or images from the physical world; pictorial language; a trope; hence, any deviation from the plainest form of statement.

To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing. Macaulay.

11. (Logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.

12. (Dancing) Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a dancer.

13. (Astrol.) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.

Johnson.

14. (Music) (a) Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression .

Grove.

(b) A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a musical or motive; a florid embellishment .

&hand; Figures are often written upon the staff in music to denote the kind of measure. They are usually in the form of a fraction, the upper figure showing how many notes of the kind indicated by the lower are contained in one measure or bar. Thus, 2/4 signifies that the measure contains two quarter notes. The following are the principal figures used for this purpose: -- <-- the "figures" illustrated here have a bar through each number and cannot be represented as simple fractions, thus the special "musfig" field notation. The following numbers are contained in a single line of large (ca. 14 pt.) bold type -->

2/2 2/4 2/8 4/2 2/4 4/8 3/2 3/4 3/8 6/4 6/4 6/8

Academy figure , Canceled figures , Lay figure , etc. See under Academy , Cancel , Lay , etc. -- Figure caster , &or; Figure flinger , an astrologer. This figure caster ." Milton. -- Figure flinging , the practice of astrology. -- Figure-of-eight knot , a knot shaped like the figure 8. See Illust . under Knot . -- Figure painting , a picture of the human figure, or the act or art of depicting the human figure. -- Figure stone (Min.) , agalmatolite. -- Figure weaving , the art or process of weaving figured fabrics. -- To cut a figure , to make a display. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.

Figure <Xpage=558>

Fig"ure , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Figured (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Figuring .] [F. figurer , L. figurare , fr. figura . See Figure , n. ] 1. To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape.

If love, alas! be pain I bear,

No thought can figure , and no tongue declare.Prior.

2. To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.

The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors. Shak.

3. To indicate by numerals; also, to compute.

As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen. Dryden.

4. To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.

Whose white vestments figure innocence. Shak.

5. To prefigure; to foreshow.

In this the heaven figures some event. Shak.

6. (Mus.) (a) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. (b) To embellish.

To figure out , to solve; to compute or find the result of. -- To figure up , to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.

Figure <Xpage=558>

Fig"ure , v. t. 1. To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the envoy figured at court .

Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring away brilliantly. M. Arnold.

2. To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring to secure the nomination . [Colloq.]

Figured <Xpage=558>

Fig"ured (?) , a. 1. Adorned with figures; marked with figures; as, figured muslin .

2. Not literal; figurative. [Obs.]

Locke.

3. (Mus.) (a) Free and florid; as, a figured descant . See Figurate , 3. (b) Indicated or noted by figures.

Figured bass . See Continued bass , under Continued .

Figurehead <Xpage=558>

Fig"ure*head` (?) , n. 1. (Naut.) The figure, statue, or bust, on the prow of a ship.

2. A person who allows his name to be used to give standing to enterprises in which he has no responsible interest or duties; a nominal, but not real, head or chief.

Figurial <Xpage=558>

Fi*gu"ri*al (?) , a. Represented by figure or delineation. [R.]

Craig.

Figurine <Xpage=558>

Fi`gu`rine" (? &or; ?) , n. [F., dim . of figure .] A very small figure, whether human or of an animal; especially, one in terra cotta or the like; -- distinguished from statuette , which is applied to small figures in bronze, marble, etc.

Figurist <Xpage=558>

Fig"ur*ist (?) , n. One who uses or interprets figurative expressions.

Waterland.

Figwort <Xpage=558>

Fig"wort` (?) , n. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants ( Scrophularia ), mostly found in the north temperate zones. See Brownwort .

Fijian <Xpage=558>

Fi"ji*an (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the Fiji islands or their inhabitants. -- n. A native of the Fiji islands. [Written also Feejeean , Feejee .]

Fike <Xpage=558>

Fike (?) , n. See Fyke .

Fil <Xpage=558>

Fil (?) , obs. imp. of Fall , v. i. Fell.

Chaucer.

Filaceous <Xpage=558>

Fi*la"ceous (? &or; ?) , a. [L. filum thread.] Composed of threads.

Bacon.

Filacer <Xpage=558>

Fil"a*cer (?) , n. [OE. filace a file, or thread, on which the records of the courts of justice were strung, F. filasse tow of flax or hemp, fr. L. filum thread.] (Eng. Law) A former officer in the English Court of Common Pleas; -- so called because he filed the writs on which he made out process. [Obs.]

Burrill.

Filament <Xpage=558>

Fil"a*ment (?) , n. [F. filament , fr. L. filum thread. See File a row.] A thread or threadlike object or appendage; a fiber; esp. (Bot.) , the threadlike part of the stamen supporting the anther.

Filamentary <Xpage=558>

Fil`a*men"ta*ry (?) , a. Having the character of, or formed by, a filament.

Filametoid <Xpage=558>

Fil"a*metoid` (?) , a. [ Filament + -oid .] Like a filament.

Filamentous <Xpage=558>

Fil`a*men"tous (?) , a. [Cf. F. filamenteux .] Like a thread; consisting of threads or filaments.

Gray.

Filander <Xpage=558>

Fil"an*der (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A species of kangaroo ( Macropus Brunii ), inhabiting New Guinea.

Filanders <Xpage=558>

Fil"an*ders (?) , n. pl. [F. filandres , fr. L. filum thread.] (Falconry) A disease in hawks, characterized by the presence of small threadlike worms, also of filaments of coagulated blood, from the rupture of a vein; -- called also backworm .

Sir T. Browne.

Filar <Xpage=558>

Fi"lar (?) , a. [L. filum a thread.] Of or pertaining to a thread or line; characterized by threads stretched across the field of view; as, a filar microscope; a filar micrometer.

Filaria <Xpage=558>

Fi*la"ri*a (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. filum a thread.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of slender, nematode worms of many species, parasitic in various animals. See Guinea worm .

Filatory <Xpage=558>

Fil"a*to*ry (?) , n. [LL. filatorium place for spinning, fr. filare to spin, fr. L. filum a thread.] A machine for forming threads. [Obs.]

W. Tooke.

Filature <Xpage=558>

Fil"a*ture (?; 135) , n. [LL. filatura , fr. filare to spin: cf. F. filature . See Filatory .] 1. A drawing out into threads; hence, the reeling of silk from cocoons.

Ure.

2. A reel for drawing off silk from cocoons; also, an establishment for reeling silk.

Filbert <Xpage=558>

Fil"bert (?) , n. [Perh. fr. fill + bread , as filling the bread or husk; cf. G. bartnuss (lit., bread nut) filbert; or perh. named from a St. Philibert , whose day, Aug. 22, fell in the nutting season.] (Bot.) The fruit of the Corylus Avellana or hazel. It is an oval nut, containing a kernel that has a mild, farinaceous, oily taste, agreeable to the palate.

&hand; In England filberts are usually large hazelnuts, especially the nuts from selected and cultivated trees. The American hazelnuts are of two other species.

Filbert gall (Zo\'94l.) , a gall resembling a filbert in form, growing in clusters on grapevines. It is produced by the larva of a gallfly ( Cecidomyia ).

Filch <Xpage=558>

Filch (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Filched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Filching .] [Cf. AS. feol<?/n to stick to, OHG. felhan , felahan , to hide, Icel. fela , Goth. filhan to hide, bury, Prov. E. feal to hide slyly, OE. felen .] To steal or take privily (commonly, that which is of little value); to pilfer.

Fain would they filch that little food away. Dryden.

But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. Shak.

Filcher <Xpage=558>

Filch"er (?) , n. One who filches; a thief.

Filchingly <Xpage=558>

Filch"ing*ly , adv. By pilfering or petty stealing.

<page="559"> Page 559

File <Xpage=559>

File (?) , n. [F. file row (cf. Pr., Sp., Pg., & It. fila ), LL. fila , fr. L. filum a thread. Cf. Enfilade , Filament , Fillet .] 1. An orderly succession; a line; a row ; as: (a) (Mil) A row of soldiers ranged one behind another; -- in contradistinction to rank , which designates a row of soldiers standing abreast; a number consisting the depth of a body of troops, which, in the ordinary modern formation, consists of two men, the battalion standing two deep, or in two ranks .

&hand; The number of files in a company describes its width, as the number of ranks does its depth; thus, 100 men in "fours deep" would be spoken of as 25 files in 4 ranks.

Farrow.

(b) An orderly collection of papers, arranged in sequence or classified for preservation and reference; as, files of letters or of newspapers; this mail brings English files to the 15th instant . (c) The line, wire, or other contrivance, by which papers are put and kept in order .

It is upon a file with the duke's other letters. Shak.

(d) A roll or list . "A file of all the gentry."

Shak.

<-- (e) (computer) a collection of data on a recording medium treated as a unit for the purpose of recording or reading, accesible by use of a file name. -->

2. Course of thought; thread of narration. [Obs.]

Let me resume the file of my narration. Sir H. Wotton.

File firing , the act of firing by file, or each file independently of others. -- File leader , the soldier at the front of any file, who covers and leads those in rear of him. -- File marching , the marching of a line two deep, when faced to the right or left, so that the front and rear rank march side by side. Brande & C. -- Indian file , &or; Single file , a line of men marching one behind another; a single row. -- On file , preserved in an orderly collection. -- Rank and file . (a) The body of soldiers constituing the mass of an army, including corporals and privates. Wilhelm. (b) Those who constitute the bulk or working members of a party, society, etc., in distinction from the leaders.

File <Xpage=559>

File (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Filed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Filing .] 1. To set in order; to arrange, or lay away, esp. as papers in a methodical manner for preservation and reverence; to place on file; to insert in its proper place in an arranged body of papers.

I would have my several courses and my dishes well filed . Beau. & Fl.

2. To bring before a court or legislative body by presenting proper papers in a regular way; as, to file a petition or bill .

Burrill.

3. (Law) To put upon the files or among the records of a court; to note on (a paper) the fact date of its reception in court.

To file a paper, on the part of a party, is to place it in the official custody of the clerk. To file , on the part of the clerk, is to indorse upon the paper the date of its reception, and retain it in his office, subject to inspection by whomsoever it may concern. Burrill.

File <Xpage=559>

File , v. i. [Cf. F. filer .] (Mil.) To march in a file or line, as soldiers, not abreast, but one after another; -- generally with off .

To file with , to follow closely, as one soldier after another in file; to keep pace.

My endeavors Have ever come too short of my desires, Yet filed with my abilities. Shak.

File <Xpage=559>

File (?) , n. [AS. fe\'a2l ; akin to D. viji , OHG. f\'c6la , f\'c6hala , G. feile , Sw. fil , Dan. fiil , cf. Icel. <?/<?/l , Russ. pila , and Skr. pi<?/ to cut out, adorn; perh. akin to E. paint .] 1. A steel instrument, having cutting ridges or teeth, made by indentation with a chisel, used for abrading or smoothing other substances, as metals, wood, etc.

&hand; A file differs from a rasp in having the furrows made by straight cuts of a chisel, either single or crossed, while the rasp has coarse, single teeth, raised by the pyramidal end of a triangular punch.

2. Anything employed to smooth, polish, or rasp, literally or figuratively.

Mock the nice touches of the critic's file . Akenside.

3. A shrewd or artful person. [Slang]

Fielding.

Will is an old file spite of his smooth face. Thackeray.