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by Tamilze on March 17th, 2007

Tamilze

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How come ever time we say "figment," it's in reference to the imagination? Aren't there other types of figments?

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Answers. 4 helpful answers below.

  • by MrBLT needs to be contained on October 12th, 2007

    MrBLT needs to be contained

    I LOVE this question - hmmm

    maybe a figment of apples?
    a figment of geese?

    jk


    perhaps a figment of space?

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  • by singwell-is off researching a lot on March 18th, 2007

    singwell-is off researching a lot

    you can have figment of the mind, which is essentially the same as figment of the imagination,and there is a book called "Figment of the Heart" by Michelle Woody, but the word figment does not seem to attach itself to many words.
    It comes from the Latin fingere to pretend, to fashion

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  • by Anonymous on March 17th, 2008

    Anonymous

    I took a linguistics class 30 years ago (!) and there was a special type of phrase in which you only used one word with others, like if you use figment, you want to use imagination. I forget what it's called, but it's a certain kind of language set-up. Anyone have any idea what I'm thinking about? It's been a loooong time.

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  • by VSPrasad on October 13th, 2007

    VSPrasad

    a thing believed to be real but existing only in the imagination.

    http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/figment?view=uk

    http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=28749&dict=CALD

    http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Figment

    Something invented, made up, or fabricated: just a figment of the imagination.

    http://www.bartleby.com/61/48/F0114800.html

    purely imaginary thing: something produced by or only existing in somebody's imagination

    [15th century. < Latin figmentum "formation, figure, creation" < fingere "to form, shape"]

    http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861611386

    1. a mere product of mental invention; a fantastic notion: The noises in the attic were just a figment of his imagination.
    2. a feigned, invented, or imagined story, theory, etc.: biographical and historical figments.

    http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/figment

    Definition: a purely imaginary thing, existing as a flight of imagination or fabrication

    Synonyms: chimera, creation, fabrication, illusion, fancy

    Antonyms: reality

    Tips: Figment is derived from the Latin figmentum, “formation, figure, creation." It's most commonly used as a critique, in the phrase "figment of your imagination." To use figment in a different context, without that common phrase, is a good way of intellectualizing it. Biographical and historical figments are invented or feigned stories.

    Usage Examples:

    The traveler rubbed his eyes, unsure if the distant campfire was merely a figment of his imagination. (fabrication, illusion)

    Some movies temporarily portray figments of character's imaginations as reality. (fancy, creation)

    Was that a figment, or did I just see my estranged brother. (chimera, illusion)

    Either that was a very real-to-life figment, or I just saw a bald eagle flying outside our window. (fabrication, illusion)

    http://vocabulary-vocabulary.com/dictionary/figment.php

    (idiom) "be a figment of your/the imagination":

    if something is a figment of your imagination, it seems real although it is not. I thought I saw someone standing in the shadows, but it was just a figment of my imagination.

    http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/figment

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