“figure” in Latin

figura (general term for shape, with reference to its outline, οχῆμα): forma (the form, with reference to internal properties with which it corresponds; to color and beauty as well as to outline, μορφή): species (the external appearance, whether agreeing with the real nature of the thing itself or not, εἶδος). (The words are found in this connection and order.) figura et forma; forma ac figura; forma figuraque; figura et species; forma atque species; species atque figura or forma. Geometrical figures, formae ☞ not figurae) geometricae (Cic., Rep., 1, 17); descriptiones (Cic., Tusc., 1, 17, 38): So in drawing,” figure” is forma, not figura. To describe geometrical figures, formas geometricas describere. The figure of a man, or the human figure, figura hominum or humana; humana species ac figura; humana forma. To cut a bad figure in anything, *parum honestae sunt meae partes in aliqua re: he cut but an indifferent figure, *minus splendide se gessit.

In rhetoric, forma: orationis lumen, or insigne, or ornamentum (Cic. uses these expressions, but figura, which afterward became a technical term, is to be preferred to them; Cic. himself prepared the way for its adoption; e.g., sententiae et earum formae, tamquam figurae. De Opt. Gen. Orat., 5, 14): oratorical figures, orationis ornamenta; verborum exornationes (Auct., ad Herenn.). ☞ “Metaphors,” translatio, and “tropes,” tropus, are distinguished from figurae by Quint., 9, 1, 4.

To form into a determined shape, fingere: figurare: formare: formam alicujus rei facere: imaginem alicujus rei ducere; from anything, ex re (to form an image out of any shapeless mass). [Vid: To FORM.] (The words are found in this connection and order.) fingere et formare. To figure anything, aliquid in formam alicujus rei redigere. [Vid: also, To FORM.]

To depict, Vid:

To represent, as a type, repraesentare effigiem or speciem alicujus rei (to have or bear the image or look of anything): indicare: significare (to indicate, to signify).

To diversify with figures, figuris ornare or variare (Quint.): distinguere (to ornament a surface by bright or other striking objects placed at intervals). (The words are found in this connection and order.) distinguere et ornare: ornare et distinguere. Figured goblets, caelata pocula.

To conceive a notion of anything, or to represent to one’s mind, cogitatione sibi fingere: animo sibi effingere: animo concipere: to figure anything to one’s self, proponere sibi ante oculos animumque.