Metafori

Metafori are figures of speech in which a term is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. By transferring meaning from one domain to another, metafori create imagery, express abstract concepts, and illuminate connections between different phenomena. They are widely used in poetry, prose, oratory, advertising, and everyday speech.

Etymology: The word metaphor derives from the Greek metaphorē, meaning transfer or carrying across, from meta (beyond) and pherein (to carry). The Italian form metafora and the plural metafori share the same origin.

Types and examples: Direct metaphor asserts the comparison, as in Time is a thief. An extended metaphor develops throughout a text, sustaining a single symbolic idea. An implied metaphor suggests the comparison without naming the vehicle, as in The storm battered the town. A dead metaphor has become so common that it loses its vivid image. Conceptual metaphors, a view from cognitive linguistics (Lakoff and Johnson), describe systematic mappings like ARGUMENT IS WAR or LIFE IS A JOURNEY, which structure much everyday thought and language.

History and influence: Metafori appear in ancient literature and rhetoric, from Greek and Roman authors to religious and philosophical texts. In modern times they are analyzed in literary studies, linguistics, and cognitive science for their role in idea formation and persuasion. They remain a foundational tool for communication, creativity, and interpretation across cultures.

See also: Metafori are part of broader figurative language, alongside simile, allegory, and symbolism, and are closely connected to theories of cognitive metaphor and linguistic creativity.