English → Latin
“metaphor” in Latin
figūrashape, form, figure; shape; taunt, quip, jibetrānslātiōTranslation of text from one language to another; A transfer from a literal to a figurative meaning; a metaphor (compare
The English word metaphor itself goes back to Latin metaphora.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
metaphor
translatio (μεταφορά) verba translata, plur.: figura (Cic., De Opt. Gen. Orat., 5, p. in.; sententiae et eorum formae, tamquam figurae; but from Cic. this technical use of the word soon became common). Bold metaphors, translationes audaciores: clashing metaphors (Addison), inconsequentia translationum (after Quint., 8, 6, 50).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for metaphor?
- The usual Latin words for “metaphor” are figūra, trānslātiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.