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figurate


figurate


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Figurate  \Fig"ur*ate\,  a.  [L.  figuratus  p.  p.  of  figurare.  See 
  {Figure}.] 
  1.  Of  a  definite  form  or  figure. 
 
  Plants  are  all  figurate  and  determinate,  which 
  inanimate  bodies  are  not  --Bacon. 
 
  2.  Figurative;  metaphorical.  [Obs.]  --Bale. 
 
  3.  (Mus.)  Florid;  figurative;  involving  passing  discords  by 
  the  freer  melodic  movement  of  one  or  more  parts  or  voices 
  in  the  harmony;  as  figurate  counterpoint  or  descant. 
 
  {Figurate  counterpoint}  or  {descant}  (Mus.),  that  which  is 
  not  simple,  or  in  which  the  parts  do  not  move  together 
  tone  for  tone,  but  in  which  freer  movement  of  one  or  more 
  parts  mingles  passing  discords  with  the  harmony;  --  called 
  also  {figural},  {figurative},  and  {figured  counterpoint} 
  or  {descant}  (although  the  term  figured  is  more  commonly 
  applied  to  a  bass  with  numerals  written  above  or  below  to 
  indicate  the  other  notes  of  the  harmony). 
 
  {Figurate  numbers}  (Math.),  numbers,  or  series  of  numbers, 
  formed  from  any  arithmetical  progression  in  which  the 
  first  term  is  a  unit,  and  the  difference  a  whole  number, 
  by  taking  the  first  term,  and  the  sums  of  the  first  two 
  first  three  first  four  etc.,  as  the  successive  terms  of 
  a  new  series,  from  which  another  may  be  formed  in  the  same 
  manner,  and  so  on  the  numbers  in  the  resulting  series 
  being  such  that  points  representing  them  are  capable  of 
  symmetrical  arrangement  in  different  geometrical  figures, 
  as  triangles,  squares,  pentagons,  etc 
 
  Note:  In  the  following  example,  the  two  lower  lines  are 
  composed  of  figurate  numbers,  those  in  the  second  line 
  being  triangular,  and  represented  thus:  --  .  1,  2,  3, 
  4,  etc  .  .  .  1,  3,  6,  10,  etc  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  etc  1, 
  4,  10,  20,  etc  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .