Your search [word => 'form' ] returned 23 results.
FORM, n. [L. forma.] 1. The shape or external appearance of a body; the figure, as defined by lines and angles; that manner of being peculiar to each body, which exhibits it to the eye as distinct from every other body. Thus we speak of the form of a circle, the form of a square or triangle, a circular form, the form of the head or of the human body, a handsome form, an ugly form, a frightful form.Matter is the basis or substratum of bodies, form is the particular disposition of matter in each body which distinguishes its appearance from that of every other body.The form of his visage was changed. Dan. 3.After that he appeared in another form to two of them, as they walked. Mark 16.2. Manner of arranging particulars; disposition of particular things; as a form of words or expressions.3. Model; draught; pattern.Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me. 2Tim. 1.4. Beauty; elegance; splendor; dignity.He hath no form nor comeliness. Isa. 53.5. Regularity; method; order. This is a rough draught to be reduced to form.6. External appearance without the essential qualities; empty show.7. Stated method; established practice; ritual or prescribed mode; as the forms of public worship; the forms of judicial proceeding; forms of civility.8. Ceremony; as, it is a mere matter of form.9. Determinate shape.The earth was without form, and void. Gen. 1. |
FORM'AL, a. 1. According to form; agreeable to established mode; regular; methodical.2. Strictly ceremonious; precise; exact to affectation; as a man formal in his dress, his gait or deportment.3. Done in due form, or with solemnity; express; according to regular method; not incidental, sudden or irregular. He gave his formal consent to the treaty.4. Regular; methodical; as the formal stars.5. Having the form or appearance without the substance or essence; external; as formal duty; formal worship.6. Depending on customary forms.Still in constraint your suffering sex remains, or bound in formal or in real chains.7. Having the power of making a thing what it is; constituent; essential.Of letters the material part is breath and voice; the formal is constituted by the motions and figure of the organs of speech.8. Retaining its proper and essential characteristic; regular; proper.To make of him a formal man again. |
FORM'ALISM, n. Formality. [The latter is generally used.] |
FORM'ALIST, n. 1. One who observes forms, or practices external ceremonies. More generally,2. One who regards appearances only, or observes the forms of worship, without possessing the life and spirit of religion; a hypocrite. A grave face and the regular practice of ceremonies have often gained to a formalist the reputation of piety. |
FORMAL'ITY, n. 1. The practice or observance of forms.Formalities of extraordinary zeal and piety are never more studied and elaborate then in desperate designs.2. Ceremony; mere conformity to customary modes.Nor was his attendance on divine offices a matter of formality and custom, but of conscience.3. Established order; rule of proceeding; mode; method; as the formalities of judicial process; formalities of law.4. Order; decorum to be observed; customary mode of behavior.5. Customary mode of dress; habit; robe.6. External appearance.7. Essence; the quality which constitutes a thing what it is.The formality of the vow lies in the promise made to God.8. In the schools, the manner in which a thing is conceived; or a manner in an object, importing a relation to the understanding, by which it may be distinguished from another object. Thus animality and rationality are formalities. |
FORM'ALIZE, v.t. To model. [Not used.] FORM'ALIZE, v.i. To affect formality. [Little used.] |
FORM'ALLY, adv. 1. According to established form, rule, order, rite or ceremony. A treaty was concluded and formally ratified by both parties.2. Ceremoniously; stiffly; precisely; as, to be stiff and formally reserved.3. In open appearance; in a visible and apparent state.You and your followers do stand formally divided against the authorized guides of the church, and the rest of the people.4. Essentially; characteristically.That which formally makes this [charity] a christian grace, is the spring from which it flows. |
FORMA'TION, n. [L. formatio.] 1. The act of forming or making; the act of creating or causing to exist; or more generally, the operation of composing, by bringing materials together, or of shaping and giving form; as the formation of the earth; the formation of a state or constitution.2. Generation; production; as the formation of ideas.3. The manner in which a thing is formed. Examine the peculiar formation of the heart.4. In grammar, the act or manner of forming one word from another, as controller from control.5. In geology, formation may signify a single mass of one kind of rock, more or less extensive, or a collection of mineral substances, formed by the same agent, under the same or similar circumstances; or it may convey the idea, that certain masses or collections of minerals were formed not only by the same agent, but also at the same time. In this latter sense the term is almost always employed. |
FORM'ATIVE, a. 1. Giving form; having the power of giving form; plastic.The meanest plant cannot be raised without seeds, by any formative power residing in the soil.2. In grammar, serving to form; derivative; not radical; as a termination merely formative. |
FORM'ED, pp. Made; shaped; molded; planned; arranged; combined; enacted; constituted. |
FORM'EDON, n. [forma doni.] A writ for the recovery of lands by statute of Westminister. |
FORM'ER, n. He that forms; a maker; an author. |
FOR'MERLY, adv. In time past, either in time immediately preceding, or at any indefinite distance; of old; heretofore. We formerly imported slaves from Africa. Nations formerly made slaves of prisoners taken in war. |
FORM'FUL, a. Ready to form; creative; imaginative. |
FOR'MIATE, n. [from L. formica, an ant.] A neutral salt, composed of the formic acid and a base. |
FOR'MIC, a. [L. formica, an ant.] Pertaining to ants; as the formic acid, the acid of ants. |
FORMICA'TION, n. [L. formicatio, from formico, or formica, an ant.] A sensation of the body resembling that made by the creeping of ants on the skin. |
FORM'IDABLE, a. [L. formidabilis, from formido, fear.] Exciting fear or apprehension; impressing dread; adapted to excite fear and deter from approach, encounter or undertaking. It expresses less than terrible, terrific, tremendous, horrible, and frightful.They seemed to fear the formidable sight.I swell my preface into a volume, and make it formidable, when you see so many pages behind. |
FORM'IDABLENESS, n. The quality of being formidable, or adapted to excite dread. |
FORM'IDABLY, adv. In a manner to impress fear. |
FORM'LESS, a. [from form.] Shapeless; without a determinate form; wanting regularity of shape. |
FORM'ULA,'ULE, n. [L.] 1. A prescribed form; a rule or model.2. In medicine, a prescription.3. In church affairs, a confession of faith.4. In mathematics, a general expression for resolving certain cases or problems. |
FORM'ULARY, n. [from L. formula.] 1. A book containing stated and prescribed forms, as of oaths, declarations, prayers and the like; a book of precedents.2. Prescribed form.FORM'ULARY, a. Stated; prescribed; ritual. |
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In celebration of Noah Webster's Birthday (October 16, 2009), we have prepared an updated website. 
