Figure
/ˈfɪɡ.jər/noun
A numeral or a diagram representing a shape or object.
Did you know?In ancient times, figures were often used in rituals and spells, representing not just shapes but also the essence of the entities they invoked.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰeǵʰ-
“to put, to place, or to set”
Latin
Latin
figura
“a shape, form, or representation”
Old French
Old French
figuere
“to shape or form; to represent”
14th Century
Middle English
figure
“a number or the shape of something, often used in mathematical contexts”
Modern English
English
figure
“a numerical symbol or a representation of an object or idea”