figurativeness

The use of “impact” in the more general sense of “have an significant effect on” presumably started out figuratively but is now used in a way where the figurativeness is forgotten.

Matthew Yglesias » Stupak’s Strange Views on Human Life 2010

The use of “impact” in the more general sense of “have an significant effect on” presumably started out figuratively but is now used in a way where the figurativeness is forgotten

Matthew Yglesias » Stupak’s Strange Views on Human Life 2010

There needs to be one or more independent lines of evidence such as textual markers of figurativeness or a compelling suggestion as to what the passage is figurative for.

Julian Sanchez has it wrong - The Panda's Thumb 2005

In particular it can be evidence of figurativeness when a passage is incongruous or physical impossible when literally construed, but only when the incongruity would have been obvious to the author and the originally intended readers.

Julian Sanchez has it wrong - The Panda's Thumb 2005

To the grammatical regularity and signification of them doth their figurativeness belong.

The Doctrine of the Saints��� Perseverance Explained and Confirmed 1616-1683 1966

Johnson or Gibbon, with much greater variety of sentence forms and with far more color, figurativeness and picturesqueness of phrase.

A History of English Literature Robert Huntington Fletcher

It is far too little to say of it that it is natural, and fits the characters presented: in nationality, in figurativeness, in keen, unfeigned humor and wit it represents the richest treasure of the Russian speech.

A Survey of Russian Literature, with Selections Isabel Florence Hapgood 1889

Bob, too, knelt at my side, uttering expressions of sympathy and encouragement, expressed, as usual, with true nautical figurativeness of speech.

For Treasure Bound Harry Collingwood 1886

We do the man's intellectual endowments great wrong, if we measure it by its mere logical outcome; though here, too, there is not wanting a light ingenuity, a figurativeness, and fanciful sport, with glimpses of insight far deeper than the common.

The Best of the World's Classics, Vol. V (of X) - Great Britain and Ireland III Various 1885

There is so much figurativeness and dreamy sentiment that one never gets to the firm, clear surface. '

Hopes and Fears or, scenes from the life of a spinster Charlotte Mary Yonge 1862