v. i. [ L. configuratus, p. p. of configurare to form or after; con- + figurare to form, figura form. See Figure. ] To take form or position, as the parts of a complex structure; to agree with a pattern. [ 1913 Webster ]

Known by the name of uniformity;
Where pyramids to pyramids relate
And the whole fabric doth configurate. Jordan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. configuratio. ] 1. Form, as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a thing; shape; figure. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is the variety of configurations [ of the mouth ] . . . which gives birth and origin to the several vowels. Harris. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astrol.) Relative position or aspect of the planets; the face of the horoscope, according to the relative positions of the planets at any time. [ 1913 Webster ]

They [ astrologers ] undertook . . . to determine the course of a man's character and life from the configuration of the stars at the moment of his birth. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Psychol.) an approach to psychology that emphasizes the importance of configurational properties.
Syn. -- Gestalt psychology. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Disfiguration; mutilation. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Disfigure, and cf. Defiguration. ] The act of disfiguring, or the state of being disfigured; defacement; deformity; disfigurement. Gauden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. figurabilité. ] The quality of being figurable. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. figurare to form, shape, fr. figura figure: cf. F. figurable. See Figure. ] Capable of being brought to a fixed form or shape. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lead is figurable, but water is not. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Figure. ] 1. Represented by figure or delineation; consisting of figures; as, figural ornaments. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) Figurate. See Figurate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Figural numbers. See Figurate numbers, under Figurate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. masc. [ F., prop. p. pr. of figurer figure, represent, make a figure. ] One who dances at the opera, not singly, but in groups or figures; an accessory character on the stage, who figures in its scenes, but has nothing to say; hence, one who figures in any scene, without taking a prominent part. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. fem. [ F. ] A female figurant; esp., a ballet girl. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. figuratus, p. p. of figurare. See Figure. ] 1. Of a definite form or figure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate bodies are not. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figurative; metaphorical. [ Obs. ] Bale. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Figurate counterpoint or
Figurate 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. 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 . . . . . . . . . . . .
[ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a determinate form. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a figurate manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. figuratio. ] 1. The act of giving figure or determinate form; determination to a certain form. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) Mixture of concords and discords. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. figurativus: cf. F. figuratif. See Figurative. ] 1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Used in a sense that is tropical, as a metaphor; not literal; -- applied to words and expressions. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Abounding in figures of speech; flowery; florid; as, a highly figurative description. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Relating to the representation of form or figure by drawing, carving, etc. See Figure, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they wrote for a public familiar with painted form. J. A. Symonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

Figurative counterpoint or
Figurative descant. See under Figurate.

-- Fig"ur*a*tive*ly, adv. -- Fig"ur*a*tive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. praefiguratus, p. p. See Prefigure. ] To prefigure. [ R. ] Grafton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praefiguratio. ] The act of prefiguring, or the state of being prefigured. [ 1913 Webster ]

A variety of prophecies and prefigurations. Norris. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Showing by prefiguration. “The prefigurative atonement.” Bp. Horne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To transfigure; to transform. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. transfiguratio: cf. transfiguration. ] 1. A change of form or appearance; especially, the supernatural change in the personal appearance of our Savior on the mount. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eccl.) A feast held by some branches of the Christian church on the 6th of August, in commemoration of the miraculous change above mentioned. [ 1913 Webster ]