figuré

Figuré is a French term used to describe language or imagery that conveys meaning beyond the literal sense of the words. In linguistics, literary studies, and lexicography, a figuré expression relies on metaphorical, metonymic, or other rhetorical processes to produce an expanded or symbolic interpretation. The opposite of figuré is sens propre or sens littéral, which designates a word or expression in its most direct, literal sense.

Etymology and usage: figuré derives from figurer, to represent or to depict, from figure and Latin figura. In dictionaries and linguistic descriptions, words may have both a sens littéral and one or more sens figuré entries. The figurative sense often emerges through metaphor (a comparison without using like or as), metonymy (substitution by related concept), synecdoche (a part for the whole), or hyperbole, among others.

Examples: common figuré expressions include il pleut des cordes (it’s raining heavily), a word or phrase whose meaning cannot be inferred from the literal components. Other instances include casser les pieds (to bore or annoy someone), rendre quelqu’un fou (to drive someone crazy), or être le pilier de l’équipe (to be the backbone of the team). Such phrases convey attitudes, evaluations, or imagery rather than a literal description.

Role in dictionaries and analysis: figuré is used to label non-literal senses of words, helping readers distinguish between literal meaning and figurative interpretation. It is central to understanding idioms, proverbs, and stylistic devices in French literature and everyday language.

See also: sens propre, métaphore, métonymie, périphrase, hyperbole.