Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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adv
In a metaphorical manner; not literally; by means of metaphor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: manner
Synonyms: nonliterally
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Used to draw attention that what follows is a metaphor, not to be taken literally
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adverb
in a metaphorical manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology tree English metaphor Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English metaphoric English -al English metaphorical Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English metaphorically From metaphorical + -ly.
Across languages
16 source translations are retained for this English entry.
