Metaphor
/ˈmɛt.ə.fɔːr/noun
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Did you know?In ancient rhetoric, metaphors were revered as a means to awaken the divine within language, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μεταφορά (metaphorá)
“a carrying over or transfer of meaning”
14th Century
Old French
metaphore
“a figurative use of language, implying a comparison”
Late 15th Century
Middle English
metafore
“the use of a word or phrase in a non-literal sense for rhetorical effect”
Modern English
English
metaphor
“a broader application of the term to encompass various forms of figurative language”
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