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Webster 1913 Edition

metaphor

met′a-phorˊ

(mĕt′ȧ-fôrˊ or mĕt′ȧ-fẽr)
,
Noun.
[F.
métaphore
, L.
metaphora
, fr. Gr.
μεταφορά
, fr.
μεταφέρειν
to carry over, transfer;
μετά
beyond, over +
φέρειν
to bring, bear.]
(Rhet.)
The transference of the relation between one set of objects to another set for the purpose of brief explanation; a compressed simile; e. g., the ship plows the sea.
Abbott & Seeley.
“All the world’s a stage.”
Shak.
☞ The statement, “that man is a fox,” is a metaphor; but “that man is like a fox,” is a simile, similitude, or comparison.

Webster 1828 Edition

Metaphor

MET'APHOR

,
Noun.
[Gr. to transfer, over, to carry.] A short similitude; a similitude reduced to a single word; or a word expressing similitude without the signs of comparison. Thus 'that man is a fox,' is a metaphor; but 'that man is like a fox,' is a similitude or comparison. So when I say, 'the soldiers fought like lions,' I use a similitude. In metaphor, the similitude is contained in the name; a man is a fox, means, a man is as crafty as a fox. So we say, a man bridles his anger, that is, restrains it as a bridle restrains a horse. Beauty awakens love or tender passions; opposition fires courage.

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