figatieve

Figatieve is a term that appears occasionally in Dutch-language discourse but is not widely recognized as a standard lexical entry. In most sources, related forms such as figuratief (masculine) and figuratieve (feminine or plural) are used to denote “figurative”—that is, depicting recognizable figures or using imagery rather than being purely abstract. When encountered, figatieve is typically considered a nonstandard variant or a typographical error for figuratieve.

Origins and forms: The root is figura from Latin figura, with cognates in French and English (figuratif/figurative). In Dutch, the conventional adjectives meaning “depicting figures” are figuratief and figuratieve; the spelling figatieve is rare and variably attested. Its occasional appearance may reflect a dialectal variation, a lapse in orthography, or an attempt to align with a particular spelling pattern, but it is not established as a standard form.

Usage: In art contexts, figuratieve kunst or figuratieve schilderkunst refers to figurative painting—art that represents recognizable objects and figures. In linguistic or rhetorical contexts, figuratieve taal would denote figurative language, employing metaphor, symbolism, or non-literal expression. In typical Dutch usage, native speakers would prefer figuratief/figuratieve; if figatieve appears, it should be interpreted as a potential error or a regional variant unless corroborated by a specific source.

See also: figuratief, figuratieve, figurative art, figurative language. If you meant the English term figurative, see figurative for broader usage in language and art.