Sentence:  [T]hese four cauſes concurring, the admiration of ancient authors, the hate of the ſchoolmen, the exact ſtudy of languages, and the efficacy of preaching, did bring in an affected ſtudy of eloquoence, and "copia" of ſpeech, which then began to flouriſh. This grew ſpeedily to an exceſs; for men began to hunt more after words than matter; and more after the choiceneſs of the phraſe, and the round and clean compoſition of the ſentence, and the ſweet falling of the clauſes, and the varying and illuſtration of their works with <WSD>tropes</WSD> and figures, than after the weight of matter, worth of ſubject, ſoundneſs of argument, life of invention, or depth of judgment. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A figure of speech in which words or phrases are used with a nonliteral or figurative meaning, such as a metaphor.