metaphorically

adv

Etymology: Etymology tree English metaphor Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English metaphoric Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English metaphorical Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English metaphorically From metaphorical + -ly.

1. In a metaphorical manner; not literally; by means of metaphor.

   “He conveyed his teachings metaphorically.”

   “[…] as, for example, in the present case of throwing herself, metaphorically speaking, at Mr Casaubon's feet, and kissing his unfashionable shoe-ties as if he were a Protestant Pope.”

2. Used to draw attention that what follows is a metaphor, not to be taken literally

   “Metaphorically, he was crushed.”