FIG'URATIVE, adjective 1. Representing something else; representing by resemblance; typical. This they will say, was figurative and served by God's appointment but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity. 2. Representing by resemblance; not literal or direct. A figurative expression, is one in which the words are used in a sense different from that in which they are ordinarily used as, Slander, whose edge is sharper than the sword. 3. Abounding with figures of speech; as a description highly figurative
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI