figure vs wale

figure

noun
  • A visible pattern as in wood or cloth. 

  • A number, an amount. 

  • A drawing or diagram conveying information. 

  • A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body. 

  • A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment. 

  • The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term. 

  • A figure of speech. 

  • The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person. 

  • A person or thing representing a certain consciousness. 

  • A numeral. 

  • A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses. 

  • Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression. 

  • The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body. 

  • A shape. 

  • Any complex dance moveᵂ. 

verb
  • To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize. 

  • To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. 

  • To calculate, to solve a mathematical problem. 

  • To enter into; to be a part of. 

  • To think, to assume, to suppose, to reckon. 

  • To embellish with design; to adorn with figures. 

  • To embellish. 

  • To come to understand. 

  • To be reasonable. 

wale

noun
  • The texture of a piece of fabric. 

  • A ridge or streak produced on skin by a cane or whip. 

  • A ridge or low barrier. 

  • A horizontal timber used for supporting or retaining earth. 

  • A ridge on the outside of a horse collar. 

  • A timber bolted to a row of piles to secure them together and in position. 

  • Something selected as being the best, preference; choice. 

  • A horizontal ridge or ledge on the outside planking of a wooden ship. (See gunwale, chainwale) 

  • A raised rib in knit goods or fabric, especially corduroy. 

verb
  • To strike the skin in such a way as to produce a wale or welt. 

  • To choose, select. 

  • To beat a person, especially as punishment or out of anger. 

  • To give a surface a texture of wales or welts. 

How often have the words figure and wale occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )