different between complexion vs figure
complexion
English
Alternative forms
- complection (obsolete)
Etymology
From Middle English complexion (“temperament”), from Old French complexion (French complexion), from Latin complexi? (“a combination, connection, period”), from complecti, past participle complexus (“to entwine, encompass”).
Pronunciation
- (General American) IPA(key): /k?m?pl?k??n/
- Rhymes: -?k??n
- Hyphenation: com?plex?ion
Noun
complexion (plural complexions)
- (obsolete, medicine) The combination of humours making up one's physiological "temperament", being either hot or cold, and moist or dry.
- “Indeed, sir,” answered the lady, with some warmth, “I cannot think there is anything easier than to cheat an old woman with a profession of love, when her complexion is amorous; and, though she is my aunt, I must say there never was a more liquorish one than her ladyship. […]
- The quality, colour, or appearance of the skin on the face.
- 1596-99?, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, act II, scene i:
- Prince of Morocco: Mislike me not for my complexion, / The shadow’d livery of the burnish’d sun, / To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred. [...]
- This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking. In complexion fair, and with blue or gray eyes, he was tall as any Viking, as broad in the shoulder.
- 1596-99?, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, act II, scene i:
- (figuratively) The outward appearance of something.
- Outlook, attitude, or point of view.
- 1844, E. A. Poe, Marginalia
- But the purely marginal jottings, done with no eye to the Memorandum Book, have a distinct complexion, and not only a distinct purpose, but none at all; this it is which imparts to them a value.
- 1844, E. A. Poe, Marginalia
- (loanword, especially in scientific works translated from German) An arrangement.
- 1909, Ludwig Boltzmann, translated by Kim Sharp and Franz Matschinsky
- Second there is the level at which the energy or velocity components of each molecule are specified. He calls this a Komplexion, which we translate literally as complexion.
- 1909, Ludwig Boltzmann, translated by Kim Sharp and Franz Matschinsky
Synonyms
- See also Thesaurus:countenance
Related terms
- complect
- complex
- complexional
Translations
Verb
complexion (third-person singular simple present complexions, present participle complexioning, simple past and past participle complexioned)
- (transitive) To give a colour to.
- 2003, Leland Krauth, Mark Twain & Company: Six Literary Relations (page 118)
- From the pale refinement of her genteel heroine to the sallow complexioning of poor white trash, Stowe colors her narrative with the hues of the body.
- 2003, Leland Krauth, Mark Twain & Company: Six Literary Relations (page 118)
Further reading
- complexion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- complexion in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
Old French
Etymology
First known attestation circa 1120, borrowed from Latin complexi?.
Noun
complexion f (oblique plural complexions, nominative singular complexion, nominative plural complexions)
- (medicine) complexion (combination of humours making up one's physiological "temperament")
References
- Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXe au XVe siècle (1881) (complession, supplement)
complexion From the web:
- what complexion am i
- what complexion means
- what complexion will my baby be
- what complexion was jesus christ
- what complexion do i have
- what complexion looks good in yellow
- what complexion season am i
- what complexion suits grey hair
figure
English
Etymology
From Middle English figure, borrowed from Old French figure, from Latin fig?ra (“form, shape, form of a word, a figure of speech, Late Latin a sketch, drawing”), from fing? (“to form, shape, mold, fashion”), from Proto-Indo-European *d?ey??- (“to mold, shape, form, knead”). Cognate with Ancient Greek ?????? (teîkhos), Sanskrit ?????? (degdhi), Old English d?g (“dough”). More at dough. Doublet of figura.
Pronunciation
- (General American) IPA(key): /?f??j?/, /?f???/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /?f???/
- (Canada) IPA(key): /?f???/, /?f??j?/
- Rhymes: -???(?), -??j?(?)
- Hyphenation: fig?ure
Noun
figure (plural figures)
- A drawing or diagram conveying information.
- The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body.
- a figure in bronze; a figure cut in marble
- A person or thing representing a certain consciousness.
- The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person.
- He cut a sorry figure standing there in the rain.
- I made some figure there.
- 1770, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England
- gentlemen of the best figure in the county
- (obsolete) Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendour; show.
- 1729, William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life
- that he may live in figure and indulgence
- 1729, William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life
- A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body.
- A numeral.
- A number, an amount.
- A shape.
- A visible pattern as in wood or cloth.
- The muslin was of a pretty figure.
- Any complex dance moveW.
- A figure of speech.
- (logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
- (astrology) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Johnson to this entry?)
- (music) Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.
- 1888, George Grove, Beethoven's Nine Symphonies: Analytical Essays
- Here, Beethoven limits the syncopations and modifications of rhythm which are so prominent in the first and third movements, and employs a rapid, busy, and most melodious figure in the Violins, which is irresistible in its gay and brilliant effect […]
- 1888, George Grove, Beethoven's Nine Symphonies: Analytical Essays
- (music) A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment.
Derived terms
Related terms
- figurine
- figurative
- figuratively
Descendants
- ? Japanese: ????? (figyua)
Translations
Verb
figure (third-person singular simple present figures, present participle figuring, simple past and past participle figured)
- (chiefly US) To calculate, to solve a mathematical problem.
- (chiefly US) To come to understand.
- To think, to assume, to suppose, to reckon.
- (chiefly US, intransitive) To be reasonable.
- (intransitive) To enter into; to be a part of.
- (obsolete) To represent by a figure, as to form or mould; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape.
- To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.
- (obsolete) To indicate by numerals.
- 1698 , John Dryden, Epitaph of Mary Frampton
- As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen.
- 1698 , John Dryden, Epitaph of Mary Frampton
- To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.
- (obsolete) To prefigure; to foreshow.
- (music) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.
- (music) To embellish.
Derived terms
- go figure
- prefigure
- figure on
- figure out (US)
Translations
Further reading
- figure in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- figure in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
French
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin fig?ra.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /fi.?y?/
Noun
figure f (plural figures)
- face
- figure
Synonyms
- visage
Derived terms
Further reading
- “figure” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
Italian
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ure
Noun
figure f
- plural of figura
Portuguese
Verb
figure
- first-person singular present subjunctive of figurar
- third-person singular present subjunctive of figurar
- third-person singular negative imperative of figurar
- third-person singular imperative of figurar
Spanish
Verb
figure
- Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of figurar.
- First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of figurar.
- Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of figurar.
- Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of figurar.
figure From the web:
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- what figure is not a rhombus
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- what figure is on top of the capitol building
- what figure shows a ray
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