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Glite Dictionary
terminal figure

terminal figure

9.9
A carved statue, often a head or animal, placed on a square pillar to mark a boundary
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : figura terminal
  • A terminal figure of Hermes was placed at crossroads in classical Rome.

Examples

  • Many ancient ruins feature terminal figures as boundary markers.

  • The ancient garden was adorned with a terminal figure marking its border.

  • Museum visitors marveled at the craftsmanship of the restored terminal figure.

  • The terminal figure on the column was beautifully crafted.

  • A terminal figure of an eagle stands proudly atop the pillar in the ancient temple.

  • The architect decided to include a terminal figure to enhance the beauty of the building's entrance.

  • Visitors took photos beside a terminal figure that represented a lion, symbolizing strength and courage.

Synonyms

figure
vsterminal figure
234 3.1

The shape of a person's body

is the specific architectural statue used atop pillars as ancient boundary markers
term
vsterminal figure
  • Archaic
5 9.9

A carved statue or bust on top of a pillar that marks a boundary

is the same specific architectural marker rather than a general artistic form
terminus
vsterminal figure
  • Specialized
9.5

A carved statue on top of a square pillar that marks a boundary in ancient Rome

is the same architectural marker term with matching origin and form

Surface Forms

terminal figure singular
terminal figures plural

Morphology

terminal + figure

A learner who knows 'terminal' = 'occurring at an end' and 'figure' = 'a visible shape/statue' can infer a meaning like 'a figure placed at an end or endpoint', so there is a clear compositional clue. However the specific architectural sense (a statue carved at the top of a square pillar used as a boundary marker) is specialized and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so the expression is only partly transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Terminal figure comes from ancient Rome. People put a carved figure, a head or an animal, on the terminal, or 'end', of a square pillar to mark the edge of a road or a field. So the phrase means 'a statue placed at the end or top of a pillar'.