FIGURING • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Figuring

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/fˈɪgjərɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Figure v. t. (past & past part. figured; pres. part. figuring)

1.

To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape. "If love, alas! be pain I bear," "No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.Prior."

2.

To embellish with design; to adorn with figures. "The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors."

3.

To indicate by numerals; also, to compute. "As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen."

4.

To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize. "Whose white vestments figure innocence."

5.

To prefigure; to foreshow. "In this the heaven figures some event."

6.

(Mus.)

(a)

To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.

(b)

To embellish.

To figure out, to solve; to compute or find the result of.

To figure up, to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.

Figure v. i.

1.

To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the envoy figured at court. "Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring away brilliantly."

2.

To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring to secure the nomination. (Colloq.)

go figure a phrase used by itself as an interjection to mean "How can one explain that?", or to express puzzlement over some seeming contradiction. (Colloq.)

See images of 'Figuring'

Etymology of 'Figuring'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Figuring" Quotes from Famous Books

... at figuring, but I can say out a blessed hymn, what any person with the mind gone contrary in them could not do. Hearken now till you'll know is there confusion in ...

— New Irish Comedies • Lady Augusta Gregory

... Shore not. You bet I'm obliged to you, and I hope I can do as much for you some day. But I wasn't figuring on staying here any length of time. Swing—he's my friend—and I are going down to try Arizona a spell. We'll be pulling out ...

— The Heart of the Range • William Patterson White

... This bell was named Marie. She was alone in the southern tower, with her sister Jacqueline, a bell of lesser size, shut up in a smaller cage beside hers. This Jacqueline was so called from the name of the wife of Jean Montagu, who had given it to the church, which had not prevented his going and figuring without his head at Montfaucon. In the second tower there were six other bells, and, finally, six smaller ones inhabited the belfry over the crossing, with the wooden bell, which rang only between after ...

— Notre-Dame de Paris - The Hunchback of Notre Dame • Victor Hugo

... thought occurred to him he recognized an old acquaintance strolling along the sidewalk in his direction. It was no other than Jim Parker, the friend and crony of Mike Donovan, who will be remembered as figuring in not a very creditable way in the earlier chapters of this story. It so happened that he and Paul had not met for some time, and Jim was quite ignorant of Paul's ...

— Paul the Peddler - The Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant • Horatio Alger, Jr.

... blame bad bargain," commented the rancher, with unruffled good humor. "I was figuring that I might help you. I thought you were a hobo after my chickens, or trying to bluff me into a free meal this morning. If you'd asked straight for it, I'd have given ...

— Thurston of Orchard Valley • Harold Bindloss

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