kuvallisesti

Kuvallisesti is a Finnish adverb meaning "in a figurative or pictorial sense." It is used to indicate that a description, statement, or depiction should be understood non-literally, often relying on imagery, metaphor, or symbolic meaning rather than strict factual accuracy. The word signals that the speaker or writer intends to evoke pictures, impressions, or concepts rather than to present something in a literal sense.

Etymology and form: kuvallisesti is built from kuva (image, picture) and the adjectival suffix -llinen to form kuvallinen (pictorial, visual), with the adverbial suffix -isesti creating kuvallisesti. The term sits in a family of expressions that include kuvainnollisesti and other figurative-language markers, though subtle nuances can vary by context.

Usage: The adverb is common in literature, rhetoric, art criticism, and journalism when authors want to emphasize that what is described or depicted uses imagery or metaphor. It often accompanies statements that would be misleading if taken literally, or when discussing how a scene, narrative, or artwork conveys meaning beyond bare facts. Synonyms or near-synonyms include kuvainnollisesti (figuratively, metaphorically), with kuvallisesti sometimes implying a broader, imagery-based sense and kuvainnollisesti focusing more narrowly on metaphor.

Examples:

- Kuvallisesti sanoen tilanne on ollut kaoottinen.

- Teoksen tapahtumat esitetään kuvatullisesti, eikä pelkästään faktapohjaisesti.

Note: in use, kuvanne and other forms may alternate with related terms depending on nuance and register.

See also:

- kuvallinen

- kuvainnollinen

- kielikuvitus

- metafora

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