figō

Back-formed from the perfect fīxī, replacing earlier fīvō, from Proto-Italic *feigʷō (with fīxus for fictus after fīxī), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeygʷ- (“to stick, set up”). Cognates include English ditch, West Frisian dyk (“dam”), Dutch dijk, German Deich (“dike”) and Teich(“pond”) (all from Proto-Germanic *dīkaz), Lithuanian diegti (“to prick; plant”), dýgsti (“to geminate, grow”), Sanskrit देहि (dehi-, “wall”) and देह (deha, “body”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈfiː.ɡoː/, [ˈfiːɡoː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈfi.ɡo/, [ˈfiːɡo]

Verb

fīgō (present infinitive fīgere, perfect active fīxī, supine fīxum); third conjugation

1. to fasten, fix [ synonyms, antonyms ▲]

   Synonyms: colligō, adalligō, cōnfīgō, cōnserō, dēligō, ligō, illigō, alligō, nectō, cōnectō, dēfīgō, vinculō, dēstinō

   Antonyms: explicō, absolvō, dissolvō, solvō

2. to transfix, pierce [ synonyms ▲]

   Synonyms: trānsfīgō, peragō, cōnfodiō, intrō, trāiciō, percutiō, fodiō, trānsigō

3. to erect, post, set up [ synonyms ▲]

   Synonyms: pono, colloco, loco, sisto, statuo, constituo, impono, defigo

4. to affirm, assert [ synonyms ▲]

   Synonyms: affirmō, firmō, contendō, aiō, arguō

5. to drive nails