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Webster 1913 Edition


Symbolize

Sym′bol-ize

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Symbolized
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Symbolizing
.]
[Cf. F.
symboliser
.]
1.
To have a resemblance of qualities or properties; to correspond; to harmonize.
The pleasing of color
symbolizeth
with the pleasing of any single tone to the ear; but the pleasing of order doth
symbolize
with harmony.
Bacon.
They both
symbolize
in this, that they love to look upon themselves through multiplying glasses.
Howell.
2.
To hold the same faith; to agree.
[R.]
The believers in pretended miracles have always previously
symbolized
with the performers of them.
G. S. Faber.
3.
To use symbols; to represent ideas symbolically.

Sym′bol-ize

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To make to agree in properties or qualities.
2.
To make representative of something; to regard or treat as symbolic.
“Some symbolize the same from the mystery of its colors.”
Sir T. Browne.
3.
To represent by a symbol or symbols.

Webster 1828 Edition


Symbolize

SYM'BOLIZE

,
Verb.
I.
To have a resemblance of qualities or properties.
The pleasing of color symbolizeth with the pleasing of a single tone to the ear, but the pleasing of order doth symbolize with harmony.
They both symbolize in this, that they love to look upon themselves through multiplying gasses.

SYM'BOLIZE

,
Verb.
T.
To make to agree in properties.
1.
To make representative of something.
Some symbolize the same from the mystery of its colors.

Definition 2024


symbolize

symbolize

English

Alternative forms

Verb

symbolize (third-person singular simple present symbolizes, present participle symbolizing, simple past and past participle symbolized)

  1. (transitive) To be symbolic of; to represent.
    • 2006, Edwin Black, chapter 2, in Internal Combustion:
      The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood.
  2. (intransitive) To use symbols; to represent ideas symbolically.
  3. (intransitive, obsolete) To resemble each other in qualities or properties; to correspond; to harmonize.
    • Francis Bacon
      The pleasing of colour symbolizeth with the pleasing of any single tone to the ear; but the pleasing of order doth symbolize with harmony.
    • Howell
      They both symbolize in this, that they love to look upon themselves through multiplying glasses.
  4. (intransitive, obsolete) To hold the same faith; to agree.
    • G. S. Faber
      The believers in pretended miracles have always previously symbolized with the performers of them.

Derived terms

Translations