a. (sb.) [ad. late L. symbolicus, a. Gr. συμβολικός, f. σύμβολον SYMBOL sb.1: see -IC. Cf. F. symbolique (from 16th c.), It., Sp. sim-, Pg. symbolico.]
1. Having the character of a symbol or representative sign or mark; constituting or serving as a symbol (of something).
1680. Pleydell, Serm. Funeral Glanvill (1681), 2. It may be well doubted whether their symbolick divinity were not design’d rather to conceal their own ignorance.
1704. Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, vi. (1739), 78. The Apostles … laid their Hands upon them; an ancient Symbolic Rite of Investiture and Consecration.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., III. § 11. 41. The Old Testament … is Prophetic and Symbolic of the Revelations of the New.
1864. Pusey, Lect. Daniel (1876), 411. The symbolic animal.
1871. R. W. Dale, Commandm., ii. 58. Jewish priests who offered a mere symbolic sacrifice might properly wear symbolic robes.
1899. W. R. Inge, Chr. Mysticism, vii. 254. All voluntary external acts are symbolic of (that is, vitally connected with) internal states.
b. Gram. (See quot., and cf. PRESENTIVE.) Also as sb. a symbolic word.
1871. Earle, Philol. Eng. Tongue, 195. The Symbolic words are those which by themselves present no meaning to the mind, and which depend for their intelligibility on a relation to some presentive word or words. Ibid., 210. Symbolics.
2. Consisting of, denoted by, or involving the use of written symbols or significant characters.
1656. Hobbes, Six Lessons, Wks. 1845, VII. 264. You demonstrate nothing to anybody but those who understand your symbolic tongue.
1669. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, I. I. xi. 64. The Egyptian Language … was twofold, Symbolic and Hieroglyphic, or Simple.
1741. Warburton, Div. Legat., IV. iv. 144. Symbolic Writing, the more it receded from the Proper Hieroglyphic, the more it became obscure.
1805–17. R. Jameson, Char. Min. (ed. 3), 184. All this description may be exhibited in symbolic language.
1839. De Morgan, in Trans. Camb. Phil. Soc., VII. 173. The method of giving meaning to the primary symbols, and of interpreting all subsequent symbolic results.
1881. Venn (title), Symbolic Logic.
1901. F. S. Dellenbaugh, N.-Americans of Yesterday, 69. In Symbolic Writing, a single characteristic part or trait serves to represent the whole object; thus the track of an animal will stand for the animal itself.
b. Math. Denoted by, relating to, or involving some special set or system of symbols, esp. simple or brief symbols used instead of fuller or more lengthy expressions, or symbols of operation treated as themselves subject to operation like symbols of quantity.
1846. Sir W. R. Hamilton, in Camb. & Dubl. Math. Jrnl., I. 49. Calling this act of connection of symbols, the operation of addition; the added symbols, summands; and the resulting symbol, a sum; we may … say … that this symbolic sum of lines represents the total (or final) effect of all those successive rectilinear motions, which are represented by the several summands.
1886. J. C. Fields, in Amer. Jrnl. Math., VIII. 367 (heading), Symbolic Finite Solutions and Solutions by Definite Integrals of the Equation d[n]y/dx[n] = xmy.
1888. W. W. Johnson, ibid., X. 94 (heading), Symbolic Treatment of Exact Linear Differential Equations.
3. Expressed, denoted, or conveyed by means of a symbol or set of symbols; concerning, involving, or depending upon representation by symbols; also, dealing with or using symbols.
Symbolic delivery: see SYMBOLICAL 3 b.
1684. Sir G. Mackenzie, Inst. Law Scot., II. i. (1694), 56. The … most ordinary way of acquiring of Property is by Tradition,… and this translation is made either by the real delivery of the thing it self, as of a Horse, a Cup &c. or by a Symbolick delivery.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., III. iii. In Death too, in the Death of the Just, as the last perfection of a Work of Art, may we not discern symbolic meaning?
1846. Trench, Mirac., xxxiii. (1862), 460. An allegorical, or more truly a symbolic, meaning underlying the literal.
1850. McCosh, Div. Govt., III. i. (1874), 264. The Symbolic power, which enables us to represent objects by signs.
1861. Trench, Comm. Ep. Churches Asia, 26. What we may call the mystical or symbolic interest … predominates over the actual.
1899. W. R. Inge, Chr. Mysticism, vii. 257. There are two views of this sacrament which the ‘plain man’ has always found much easier to understand than the symbolic view which is that of our Church.
1908. R. H. Strachan, in Expositor, Feb., 114. Apart from the much larger question of the symbolism of the Gospel, he [sc. John] displays what might be called the ‘symbolic’ mind, a mind that is especially open to any suggestion of spiritual truth conveyed by the actual facts.
b. Art and Literature. Having the characteristics of symbolism (see SYMBOLISM 1 d).
1910. B. W. Wells, Modern Fr. Lit., xiii. 485. Here [sc. in ‘La petite paroisse’] first Daudet adopted the symbolic method that Zola and Ibsen also use with such effect.
4. Pertaining to or of the nature of a formal creed or confession of faith (SYMBOL sb.1 1).
1867. Chambers’s Encycl., Symbolic Books, in the language of the church, is a phrase that signifies the same as Creeds and Confessions.
1887. Ch. Q. Rev., April, 18. It is implied in the Augsburg Confession,… the Confessio Gallicana, and … several cognate symbolic documents.
B. sb. [after G. symbolik.] a. = SYMBOLICS 2. rare–0. b. (See 1 b above.)
1864. Webster, Symbolic, n. … That branch of historic theology which treats of creeds; symbolism.
