Search the Dictionary

Like a thorn or thorns; hence, figuratively, troublesome; vexatious; harassing; perplexing. "The thorny point of bare distress." Shak. The steep and thorny way to heaven. Shak. Thorny rest-harrow (Bot.), rest-harrow. -- Thorny trefoil, a prickly plant of the genus Fagonia (F. Cretica, etc.).

game or exercise of thrusting with a lance, as a combatant on horseback; to joust; also, figuratively, to engage in any combat or movement resembling that of horsemen tilting with lances. He tilts With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast. Shak. Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast. Shak. But in this tour…

number of combatants were engaged, as an exhibition of their address and bravery; hence, figuratively, a real battle. "In battle and in tourneyment." Chaucer. With cruel tournament the squadrons join. Milton.

The use of a word in a figurative or extended sense; ametaphor; a trope. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Metaphorical; figurative; not literal. Stackhouse.

tropical; figurative; as, a translative sense. [R.] Puttenham.

Conveyed from one place to another; figuratively, carried away with passion or pleasure; entranced. -- Trans*port"ed*ly, adv. -- Trans*port"ed*ness, n.

Rhetorically changed from its exact original sense; being of the nature of a trope; figurative; metaphorical. Jer. Taylor. The foundation of all parables is some analogy or similitude between the tropical or allusive part of the parable and the thing intended by it. South. Tropic month. See Lunar month, under Month. -…

In a tropical manner; figuratively; metaphorically.

n to; to direct otherwise; to deflect; to incline differently; -- used both literally and figuratively; as, to turn the eyes to the heavens; to turn a horse from the road, or a ship from her course; to turn the attention to or from something. "Expert when to advance, or stand, or, turn the sway of battle." Milton. Thri…

nature of a type; representing something by a form, model, or resemblance; emblematic; prefigurative. The Levitical priesthood was only typical of the Christian. Atterbury.

Of or pertaining to the act or act of representing by types or symbols; emblematic; figurative; typical. [Obs.] Johnson.

Hence, in many figurative uses which may be classified as follows; --

Hence, figuratively, a tendency of feeling, opinion, or the like, in a direction contrary to what is publicly shown; an unseen influence or tendency; as, a strong undercurrent of sentiment in favor of a prisoner. All the while there was a busy undercurrent in her. G. Eliot.

Not tamed; not made familiar with, or subject to, man; -- also used figuratively. [Obs.] Hood my unmanned blood bating in my cheeks With thy black mantle. Shak.

Used also figuratively; as, his nerves were unstrung by fear.

From a lower to a higher position, literally or figuratively; as, from a recumbent or sitting position; from the mouth, toward the source, of a river; from a dependent or inferior condition; from concealment; from younger age; from a quiet state, or the like; -- used with verbs of motion expressed or implied. But they…

Being further up, literally or figuratively; higher in place, position, rank, dignity, or the like; superior; as, the upper lip; the upper side of a thing; the upper house of a legislature. The upper hand, the superiority; the advantage. See To have the upper hand, under Hand. Jowett (Thucyd.). -- Upper Bench (Eng. Hi…

ream, with frequently broad alluvial plains on one or both sides of the stream. Also used figuratively. The valley of the shadow of death. Ps. xxiii. 4. Sweet interchange Of hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains. Milton.

r outer finish or decoration; as, to veneer a piece of furniture with mahogany. Used also figuratively. As a rogue in grain Veneered with sanctimonious theory. Tennyson.