FIG 
But the figurate numbers of any order may alfobe found 
without computing thofe of the preceding orders; which 
is done by taking the fucceflive products of as many of 
the terms of the arithmetical i, 2, 3, 4, 5, &c. in their 
natural order, as there are units in the number which de¬ 
nominates the order of figurates required, and dividing 
thofe produfts always by the firft produCt. Thus the 
triangular numbers are found by dividing the products 
1 X 2 > 2 X 3> 3X4. 4X5, &c. each by the firft prod. iXi; 
the firft pyramids by dividing the products iX 2 X3» 
2 X3X4» 3X4X5. &c - b y the firft 1x2x3. And, in ge¬ 
neral, the figurate numbers of any order n, are found by 
i'ubftituting fucceflively j, 2, 3, 4, 5, &c. inftead of x in 
* . x + r . * + 2 . x + 3 . &c. 
this general exprelfion— - s — where 
D r 1.2.3.4.&C. 
the factors in the numerator and denominator are fuppofed 
to be multiplied together, and to be continued till the 
number in each be lefs by 1 than that which expreffes the 
order of the figurates required. 
FIGUR A'TION, /. Ifiguratus, Lat.] Determination 
to a certain form.—Neither doth a wind, as far as it car- 
rieth a voice, with motion thereof confound any of the 
delicate and articulate figurations of the air in variety of 
words. Bacon .—The aCt of giving a certain form.—If 
motion be in a certain order, there followeth vivification 
and figuration in living creatures perfeCt. Bacon. 
FI'GURATIVE, adj. [figuratif-ve, Fr. figura, Lat.] 
eprefenting fomething elfe ; typical; reprefentative.— 
his, they will fay, was figurative, and ferved by God’s 
appointment but for a time, to fhadow out the true ever- 
lafting glory of a more divine fanCUty; whereinto Chrift 
being long fince entered, it feemeth that all thefe curious 
exornations fhould rather ceafe. Hooker .—Changed by 
rhetorical figures from the primitive meaning; not lite¬ 
ral.—How often have we been railed at for underftanding 
words in a figurative fenfe, which cannot be literally un- 
derftood without overthrowing the plaineft evidence of 
fenfe and reafon. Stilling fleet .—Full of figures; full of 
rhetorical exornations; full of changes from the original 
fenfe.—Sublime fubjefts ought to be adorned with the 
fubliineft and with the raoft figurative expreflions. Dryd. 
FI'GUR ATIVELY, adv. By a figure ; in a fenfe dif¬ 
ferent from that which words originally imply ; not lite¬ 
rally.—The cuftom of the apoftle is figuratively to transfer 
to himfelf, in the firft perfon, what belongs to others. 
Hammond .—Satyr is a kind of poetry in which human 
vices are reprehended, partly dramatically, partly Am¬ 
ply ; but, for the moft part, figuratively. Dryden. 
FI'GURE,/. [ figura , Lat.] The form of any thing as 
terminated by the outline.—Men find green clay that isfoft 
as long as it is in the water, fo that one may print on it all 
kind of figures., and give it what fliape one pleafes. Boyle .— 
Shape; form; femblance.—He hath borne himfelf be¬ 
yond the promife of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb 
the feats of a lion. Shakjpearc. —Perfon; external form ; 
appearance grateful or inelegant, mean or grand.—A good 
figure, or perfon, in man or woman, gives credit at firft 
fight to the choice of cither. Clarijfa. 
The blue German (hall the Tigris drink. 
Ere I, forfaking gratitude and truth. 
Forget the figure of that gallant youth. Dry den. 
Diftinguiftied appearance; eminence; remarkable cha¬ 
racter.—Many princes made very ill figures upon the 
throne, who before were the favourites of the people. 
Addfon. 
While fortune favour’d, while his arm fupport 
The caufe, and rul’d the counfels of the court, 
I made feme figure there ; nor was my name 
Obfcure, nor I without my (hare of fame. Dry den. 
Magnificence; fplendour. — If it be his chief end in 
it to grow rich, that he may live in figure and indul¬ 
gence, and be able to retire from bufinefs to idlenefs 
F I G 863- 
and hurry, his trade, as to him, lofes all its innocency. 
Lazo. —Aftatue; an image ; fomething formed in refem- 
blance of fomewhat elfe.—.Several (fames, which feemed 
at a diftance of the whiteft marble, were nothing elfe but 
fo many figures in fnow. AddiJ'on .— Reprefentations in 
painting ; perfons exhibited in colours.—In the principal 
figures of a picture the painter is to employ the finews of 
his art; for in them confifts the principal beauty of his 
work. Dry den. 
My favourite books and pictures fell; 
Kindly throw in a little figure, 
And fet the price upon the bigger. Prior. 
Arrangement; difpofition; modification.—The figure of 
a fyllogifm is the proper difpofition of the middle term 
with the parts of the queftion. Watts. —A character de¬ 
noting a number.—He that feeketh to be eminent amongft 
able men, hath a great talk r but that is ever good for 
the public : but he that plots to be the only figure among 
cyphers, is the decay of a whole age. Bacon. 
Hearts, tongues, figures, feribes, bards, poets, cannot 
Think, fpeak, caft, write, fing, number 
His love to Anthony. Shakejpeare. 
[In theology.] Type; reprefentative.—Who was the 
figure of him that is to come? Romans. —[In rhetoric.] 
Any mode of fpeaking in which words are detorted from 
their literal and primitive fenfe.—In ftriCt acceptation, the 
change of a word is a trope, and any affeCtion of a fentence 
a figure ; but they are confounded even by the exaCteft 
writers. Johnfon. See Oratory, and Rhetoric, 
Silken terms precife, 
Three-pil’d hyperboles, fpruce affectation, 
Figures pedantical, thefe fummer flies 
Have blown me full of maggot oftentation. Shakejpeare, 
[In grammar.] Any deviation from the rules of analogy 
or fyntax. [In aftrology.] A defeription, draught, or 
conftruCtion, of the, date and difpofition of the heavens, 
at a certain point of time; containing the places of the 
planets and ftars, marked down in a figure of twelve tri¬ 
angles, called houjes. This is alfo called a horojeope. See 
Astrology, vol. ii. p. 309. — Ao-are-fiingers and ftar 
gazers pretend to foretel the fortunes of kingdoms, and 
have no forefight in what concerns themfelves, L'E* 
f range. 
He fet a figure to difeover 
If you were fled to Rye or Dover. lludibras. 
To FI'GURE, v. a. [.figuro, Lat.] To form into any 
determinate (hape.—Accept this goblet, rough with figur'd 
gold. Dryden. —To (how by a corporeal refemblance: as 
in pi&ure or ftatuary : 
Now marks the courfe of rolling orbs on high, 
O’er figur'd worlds now travels with his eye. • Pope. 
To cover or adorn with figures, or images; 
I’ll give my jewels for a fet of beads, 
My gorgeous palace for a hermitage, 
My gay apparel for an almfman’s gown, 
My figur'd goblets for a di(h of wood. Shakejpeare. 
To diverfify; to variegate with adventitious forms or 
matter: 
But this effufion of fuch manly drops. 
Startle mine eyes, and make me more amaz’d 
Than had I feen the vaulty top of heav’n 
Figur'd quite o’er with burning meteors. Shakejpeare. 
To reprelent by a typical or figurative refemblance.—The 
emperor appears as a rifing fun, and holds a globe in his 
hand to figure out the earth that is enlightened and aCtu* 
ated by his beams. Addijon. 
There is a hiftory in all mens lives, 
Figuring the nature of the times deceafed, Shakejpeare. 
s Marriage 
