allegorical

American  

[al-i-gawr-i-kuhl, -gor-] / ˌæl ɪˈgɔr ɪ kəl, -ˈgɒr- /

Also allegoric

adjective

1. consisting of or pertaining to allegory; of the nature of or containing allegory; figurative.

   an allegorical poem;

   an allegorical meaning.

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allegorical British  

/ ˌælɪˈɡɒrɪkəl /

adjective

1. used in, containing, or characteristic of allegory

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Other Word Forms

• allegorically adverb
• allegoricalness noun
• nonallegoric adjective
• nonallegorical adjective
• nonallegorically adverb
• semiallegoric adjective
• semiallegorical adjective
• semiallegorically adverb
• unallegorical adjective
• unallegorically adverb

Etymology

Origin of allegorical

First recorded in 1520–30; equivalent to Late Latin allēgoric(us) (from Greek allēgorikós; allegory, -ic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The drawings emphasize the allegorical side of Ahab’s monomaniacal hunt, fixing the characters in expressive, statuesque postures.

From The Wall Street Journal

For Zigmont, the dog is not only an allegorical concern, but also a truly practical one.

From MarketWatch

Smith has trained a live camera on a raised arm, finger pointed up, from a 1907 allegorical figure by Edward V. Valentine called “Vindicatrix,” also known as “Miss Confederacy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, they thought the story of Revelation was maybe a little more allegorical, and actually humans are moving toward New Jerusalem ourselves.

From Salon

Even so, it is the freshness of allegorical audacity as a young genius looks ahead that has the most relevance.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• figurative
• metaphorical