Word Meanings - FIGUREHEAD - Book Publishers vocabulary database

The figure, statue, or bust, on the prow of a ship. 2. A person who allows his name to be used to give standing to enterprises in which he has no responsible interest or duties; a nominal, but not real, head or chief.

Related words: (words related to FIGUREHEAD)

• RESPONSIBLE
  1. Liable to respond; likely to be called upon to answer; accountable; answerable; amenable; as, a guardian is responsible to the court for his conduct in the office. 2. Able to respond or answer for one's conduct and obligations; trustworthy,
• STATUELESS
  Without a statue.
• CHIEFLESS
  Without a chief or leader.
• STATUED
  Adorned with statues. "The statued hall." Longfellow. "Statued niches." G. Eliot.
• PERSONNEL
  The body of persons employed in some public service, as the army, navy, etc.; -- distinguished from matériel.
• PERSONIFICATION
  A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstract idea is represented as animated, or endowed with personality; prosopopas, the floods clap their hands. "Confusion heards his voice." Milton. (more info) 1. The act of personifying;
• NOMINALIST
  One of a sect of philosophers in the Middle Ages, who adopted the opinion of Roscelin, that general conceptions, or universals, exist in name only. Reid.
• NOMINAL
  1. Of or pertaining to a name or names; having to do with the literal meaning of a word; verbal; as, a nominal definition. Bp. Pearson. 2. Existing in name only; not real; as, a nominal difference. "Nominal attendance on lectures." Macaulay.
• STANDARD
  The proportion of weights of fine metal and alloy established by authority. By the present standard of the coinage, sixty-two shillings is coined out of one pound weight of silver. Arbuthnot. (more info) extendere to spread out, extend,
• STANDPOINT
  A fixed point or station; a basis or fundamental principle; a position from which objects or principles are viewed, and according to which they are compared and judged.
• PERSONIZE
  To personify. Milton has personized them. J. Richardson.
• CHIEFEST
  First or foremost; chief; principal. "Our chiefest courtier." Shak. The chiefest among ten thousand. Canticles v. 10.
• STANDPIPE
  A vertical pipe, open at the top, between a hydrant and a reservoir, to equalize the flow of water; also, a large vertical pipe, near a pumping engine, into which water is forced up, so as to give it sufficient head to rise to the required level
• PERSONATE
  To celebrate loudly; to extol; to praise. In fable, hymn, or song so personating Their gods ridiculous. Milton.
• PERSONATOR
  One who personates. "The personators of these actions." B. Jonson.
• STATUELIKE
  Like a statue; motionless.
• NOMINALIZE
  To convert into a noun.
• STATUETTE
  A small statue; -- usually applied to a figure much less than life size, especially when of marble or bronze, or of plaster or clay as a preparation for the marble or bronze, as distinguished from a figure in terra cotta or the like. Cf. Figurine.
• WHICHEVER; WHICHSOEVER
  Whether one or another; whether one or the other; which; that one which; as, whichever road you take, it will lead you to town.
• INTERESTED
  1. Having the attention engaged; having emotion or passion excited; as, an interested listener. 2. Having an interest; concerned in a cause or in consequences; liable to be affected or prejudiced; as, an interested witness.
• DISINTERESTING
  Uninteresting. "Disinteresting passages." Bp. Warburton.
• BYSTANDER
  One who stands near; a spectator; one who has no concern with the business transacting. He addressed the bystanders and scattered pamphlets among them. Palfrey. Syn. -- Looker on; spectator; beholder; observer.
• UNINTERESTED
  1. Not interested; not having any interest or property in; having nothing at stake; as, to be uninterested in any business. 2. Not having the mind or the passions engaged; as, uninterested in a discourse or narration.
• KERCHIEF
  couvrechef, F. couvrechef, a head covering, fr. couvrir to cover + 1. A square of fine linen worn by women as a covering for the head; hence, anything similar in form or material, worn for ornament on other parts of the person; -- mostly used in
• AGAINSTAND
  To withstand.
• MULTINOMINAL; MULTINOMINOUS
  Having many names or terms.
• MISCHIEF
  + chief end, head, F. chef chief. See Minus, and 1. Harm; damage; esp., disarrangement of order; trouble or vexation caused by human agency or by some living being, intentionally or not; often, calamity, mishap; trivial evil caused by
• UNIPERSONAL
  Used in only one person, especially only in the third person, as some verbs; impersonal. (more info) 1. Existing as one, and only one, person; as, a unipersonal God.
• UNDERSTANDINGLY
  In an understanding manner; intelligibly; with full knowledge or comprehension; intelligently; as, to vote upon a question understandingly; to act or judge understandingly. The gospel may be neglected, but in can not be understandingly disbelieved.
• ENKERCHIEFED
  Bound with a kerchief; draped; hooded; covered. Milton. That soft, enkerchiefed hair. M. Arnold.
• COGNOMINAL
  Of or pertaining to a cognomen; of the nature of a surname.