figurate

1. a. Of a definite form or figure. Source: opted
2. a. Figurative; metaphorical. Source: opted
3. a. Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as, figurate counterpoint or descant. Source: opted
4. 1. Of a definite form or figure. Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate bodies are not. Bacon. 2. Figurative; metaphorical. [Obs.] Bale. 3. (Mus.) Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as, figurate counterpoint or descant. Figurate counterpoint or descant (Mus.), that which is not simple, or in which the parts do not move together tone for tone, but in which freer movement of one or more parts mingles passing discords with the harmony; -- called also figural, figurative, and figured counterpoint or descant (although the term figured is more commonly applied to a bass with numerals written above or below to indicate the other notes of the harmony). -- Figurate numbers (Math.), numbers, or series of numbers, formed from any arithmetical progression in which the first term is a unit, and the difference a whole number, by taking the first term, and the sums of the first two, first three, first four, etc., as the successive terms of a new series, from which another may be formed in the same manner, and so on, the numbers in the resulting series being such that points representing them are capable of symmetrical arrangement in different geometrical figures, as triangles, squares, pentagons, etc. Note: In the following example, the two lower lines are composed of figurate numbers, those in the second line being triangular, and represented thus: --. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. . . . 1, 3, 6, 10, etc. . . . . . . . etc. 1, 4, 10, 20, etc . . . . . . . . . . . . Source: webster
5. Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freermelodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as,figurate counterpoint or descant. Figurate counterpoint or descant(Mus.), that which is not simple, or in which the parts do not movetogether tone for tone, but in which freer movement of one or moreparts mingles passing discords with the harmony; -- called alsofigural, figurative, and figured counterpoint or descant (althoughthe term figured is more commonly applied to a bass with numeralswritten above or below to indicate the other notes of the harmony).-- Figurate numbers (Math.), numbers, or series of numbers, formedfrom any arithmetical progression in which the first term is a unit,and the difference a whole number, by taking the first term, and thesums of the first two, first three, first four, etc., as thesuccessive terms of a new series, from which another may be formed inthe same manner, and so on, the numbers in the resulting series beingsuch that points representing them are capable of symmetricalarrangement in different geometrical figures, as triangles, squares,pentagons, etc. Source: adambom
6. a. Of a definite form or figure. a. Figurative; metaphorical. a. Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as, figurate counterpoint or descant. Source: ecdict

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