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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



328 words match “FIGURATIVE”

ILLUMINATE v.
To make light; to throw light on; to supply with light, literally or figuratively; to brighten.
INCENSE n.
Also used figuratively. Or heap the shrine of luxury and pride, With incense kindled at the Muse's flame. Gray. Incense tree, the name of several balsamic trees of the genus Bursera (or Icica) mostly tropical American. The gum resin is used for incense. In Jamaica the Chrysobalanus Icaco, a tree related to the plums, i…
INEBRIATION n.
The condition of being inebriated; intoxication; figuratively, deprivation of sense and judgment by anything that exhilarates, as success. Sir T. Browne. Preserve him from the inebriation of prosperity. Macaulay.
INGRAFT v.
shrub, or plant in another for propagation; as, to ingraft a peach scion on a plum tree; figuratively, to insert or introduce in such a way as to make a part of something. This fellow would ingraft a foreign name Upon our stock. Dryden. A custom . . . ingrafted into the monarchy of Rome. Burke.
JOIN v.
To bring together, literally or figuratively; to place in contact; to connect; to couple; to unite; to combine; to associate; to add; to append. Woe unto them that join house to house. Is. v. 8. Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty torches joined. Shak. Thy tuneful voice with numbers join. Dryden…
JOURNEY n.
Travel or passage from one place to another; hence, figuratively, a passage through life. The good man . . . is gone a long journey. Prov. vii. 19. We must all have the same journey's end. Bp. Stillingfleet.
KICK v.
temper; esp., to strike backward, as a horse does, or to have a habit of doing so. Hence, figuratively: To show ugly resistance, opposition, or hostility; to spurn. I should kick, being kicked. Shak.
KNAGGY a.
Knotty; rough; figuratively, rough in temper. Fuller. -- Knag"gi*ness, n.
KNELL n.
l tolled at a funeral or at the death of a person; a death signal; a passing bell; hence, figuratively, a warning of, or a sound indicating, the passing away of anything. The dead man's knell Is there scarce asked for who. Shak. The curfew tolls the knell of parting day. Gray.
KYRIOLEXY; KYRIOLOGY n.
The use of literal or simple expressions, as distinguished from the use of figurative or obscure ones. Krauth-Fleming.
LABORING a.
grief. Pope. Laboring oar, the oar which requires most strength and exertion; often used figuratively; as, to have, or pull, the laboring oar in some difficult undertaking.
LACE v.
draw together with a lace passed through eyelet holes; to unite with a lace or laces, or, figuratively. with anything resembling laces. Shak. When Jenny's stays are newly laced. Prior.
LAMP n.
Figuratively, anything which enlightens intellectually or morally; anything regarded metaphorically a performing the uses of a lamp. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. cxix. 105. Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appeared. Cowper.
LAP n.
hat lies on the knees or thighs when one sits down; that part of the person thus covered; figuratively, a place of rearing and fostering; as, to be reared in the lap of luxury. Men expect that happiness should drop into their laps. Tillotson.
LAPSE n. 2 definitions
mperceptible progress or passing away,; -- restricted usually to immaterial things, or to figurative uses. The lapse to indolence is soft and imperceptible. Rambler. Bacon was content to wait the lapse of long centuries for his expected revenue of fame. I. Taylor.
LAPSED a.
d, backward, or away; having lost position, privilege, etc., by neglect; -- restricted to figurative uses. Once more I will renew His lapsed powers, though forfeit. Milton.
LAWN n.
re. Lawn is used for the sleeves of a bishop's official dress in the English Church, and, figuratively, stands for the office itself. A saint in crape is twice in lawn. Pope.
LEAD v.
making the way known; to show the way, esp. by going with or going in advance of. Hence, figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to instruct; as, to lead a traveler; to lead a pupil. The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way. Ex. xiii. 21. He leadeth me beside the still waters. Ps. xxi…
LEAN a.
ficient in quality or contents; slender; scant; barren; bare; mean; -- used literally and figuratively; as, the lean harvest; a lean purse; a lean discourse; lean wages. "No lean wardrobe." Shak. Their lean and fiashy songs. Milton. What the land is, whether it be fat or lean. Num. xiii. 20. Out of my lean and low abil…
LEVEL n. 2 definitions
Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard, degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one of several planes of different elevation. Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level. Addison. Somebody there of his own level. Swift. Be the fair level of thy actions laid As temperance wills and pr…
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