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adjective
serving as a symbol of something (often followed by of). of, relating to, or expressed by a symbol. characterized by or involving the use of symbols: a highly symbolic poem. (in semantics, especially formerly) pertaining to a class of words that express only relations.Compare notional(def 7). Computers. expressed in characters, usually nonnumeric, that require translation before they can be used (opposed to absolute).
Sometimes sym·bol·i·cal (for defs 1–4).
Origin of symbolic
1650–60; <
Late Latin symbolicus <
Greek symbolikós. See
symbol,
-ic Related formssym·bol·i·cal·ly, adverbsym·bol·i·cal·ness, nounnon·sym·bol·ic, adjectivenon·sym·bol·i·cal, adjectivenon·sym·bol·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·sym·bol·i·cal·ness, nounun·sym·bol·ic, adjectiveun·sym·bol·i·cal, adjectiveun·sym·bol·i·cal·ly, adverbDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for symbolically
Contemporary Examples of symbolically
Crystal visits the Catskills, symbolically, in the show, but his humor is far from the whiny Allen mentality.
Could she have been symbolically protecting Maisie from the “crowns” that the Tuttles placed on their victims?
Tibi had previously symbolically spilled water on Prawer Bill in Knesset.
It might be symbolically meaningful, but probably not financially.
Similarly, the symbolically significant date of November 29 adds a second curve ball.
Historical Examples of symbolically
Symbolically speaking, that is what they would like to do with us.
All future symbols are symbolically explained by means of these three.
Guilt is allayed by symbolically and ritually passing it onto another.
Symbolically, the one gives nourishment; the other gives life.
Ezekiel represents Babylon and Egypt, symbolically, as two eagles.
British Dictionary definitions for symbolicallyadjective
of or relating to a symbol or symbols
serving as a symbol
characterized by the use of symbols or symbolism
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for symbolicallyadj.c.1600 (implied in symbolically); see symbol + -ic.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
