metaphorikos

Metaphorikos is a term derived from Greek used in linguistic and literary contexts to denote metaphorical or figurative aspects. The form is primarily encountered in Greek linguistic terminology and in transliterated scholarly discourse, rather than as a widely recognized standalone concept in English-language philosophy of language.

Etymology: The word comes from Greek μεταφορικός (metaphorikos) meaning "metaphorical" or "figurative," from μεταφορά (metaphora) meaning "carrying across" or "transfer," with the suffix -ikos. It appears in ancient and post-classical Greek to describe figurative usage in rhetoric.

Definition and usage: In classical philology, metaphorikos describes figures of speech that extend beyond literal meaning, often in analyses of ancient Greek texts. In modern linguistics and literary studies, the term typically appears as a transliterated adjective or label rather than as a formal theory. When used, it can refer to metaphor-based analysis, metaphorical diction, or metaphorical reasoning.

Examples: In translations or scholarly writing, passages may be described as metaphorikos if their language operates metaphorically rather than literally.

See also: metaphor, figurative language, metaphor theory, cognitive linguistics, rhetorical figure.

References: Dictionaries of Greek and Greek-Latin lexica, standard works on Greek grammar and rhetoric, and general encyclopedic treatments of linguistics.