Part 686

Writers and artists of the 17th century gave much attention and study to the composition of such emblems, and many collections of them were published.

Syn. -- Sign; symbol; type; device; signal; token. -- Sign, Emblem, Symbol, Type. Sign is the generic word comprehending all significant representations. An emblem is a visible object representing another by a natural suggestion of characteristic qualities, or an habitual and recognized association; as, a circle, having no apparent beginning or end, is an emblem of eternity; a particular flag is the emblem of the country or ship which has adopted it for a sign and with which it is habitually associated. Between emblem and symbol the distinction is slight, and often one may be substituted for the other without impropriety. See Symbol. Thus, a circle is either an emblem or a symbol of eternity; a scepter, either an emblem or a symbol of authority; a lamb, either an emblem or a symbol of meekness. "An emblem is always of something simple; a symbol may be of something complex, as of a transaction . . . In consequence we do not speak of actions emblematic." C. J. Smith. A type is a representative example, or model, exhibiting the qualities common to all individuals of the class to which it belongs; as, the Monitor is a type of a class of war vessels.

Em"blem (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emblemed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Embleming.] To represent by an emblem; to symbolize. [R.]

Emblemed by the cozening fig tree.

Feltham.

{ Em`blem*at"ic (?), Em`blem*at"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. emblématique.] Pertaining to, containing, or consisting in, an emblem; symbolic; typically representative; representing as an emblem; as, emblematic language or ornaments; a crown is emblematic of royalty; white is emblematic of purity. -- Em`blem*at"ic*al*ly, adv.

Em`blem*at"ic*cize (?), v. t. To render emblematic; as, to emblematicize a picture. [R.] Walpole.

Em*blem"a*tist (?), n. A writer or inventor of emblems. Sir T. Browne.

Em*blem"a*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emblematized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Emblematizing (?).] To represent by, or as by, an emblem; to symbolize.

Anciently the sun was commonly emblematized by a starry or radiate figure.

Bp. Hurd.

Em"ble*ment (?), n. [OF. embleer to sow with corn, F. emblaver, fr. LL. imbladare; pref. in- + LL. bladum grain, F. blé.] (Law) The growing crop, or profits of a crop which has been sown or planted; -- used especially in the plural. The produce of grass, trees, and the like, is not emblement. Wharton's Law Dict.

Em"blem*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emblemized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Emblemizing (?).] To represent by an emblem; to emblematize. [R.]

Em*bloom" (?), v. t. To emblossom. Savage.

Em*blos"som (?), v. t. To cover or adorn with blossoms.

On the white emblossomed spray.

J. Cunningham.

Em*bod"i*er (?), n. One who embodies.

Em*bod"i*ment (?), n. 1. The act of embodying; the state of being embodied.

2. That which embodies or is embodied; representation in a physical body; a completely organized system, like the body; as, the embodiment of courage, or of courtesy; the embodiment of true piety.

Em*bod"y (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embodied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Embodying.] To form into a body; to invest with a body; to collect into a body, a united mass, or a whole; to incorporate; as, to embody one's ideas in a treatise. [Written also imbody.]

Devils embodied and disembodied.

Sir W. Scott.

The soul, while it is embodied, can no more be divided from sin.

South.

Em*bod"y, v. i. To unite in a body, a mass, or a collection; to coalesce. [Written also imbody.]

Firmly to embody against this court party.

Burke.