Form

Form
Form Form (f[=o]rm; in senses 8 & 9, often f[=o]rm in England), n. [OE. & F. forme, fr. L. forma; cf. Skr. dhariman. Cf. {Firm}.] 1. The shape and structure of anything, as distinguished from the material of which it is composed; particular disposition or arrangement of matter, giving it individuality or distinctive character; configuration; figure; external appearance. [1913 Webster]

The form of his visage was changed. --Dan. iii. 19. [1913 Webster]

And woven close close, both matter, form, and style. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system; as, a republican form of government. [1913 Webster]

3. Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula; as, a form of prayer. [1913 Webster]

Those whom form of laws Condemned to die. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality; as, a matter of mere form. [1913 Webster]

Though well we may not pass upon his life Without the form of justice. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. Orderly arrangement; shapeliness; also, comeliness; elegance; beauty. [1913 Webster]

The earth was without form and void. --Gen. i. 2. [1913 Webster]

He hath no form nor comeliness. --Is. liii. 2. [1913 Webster]

6. A shape; an image; a phantom. [1913 Webster]

7. That by which shape is given or determined; mold; pattern; model. [1913 Webster]

8. A long seat; a bench; hence, a rank of students in a school; a class; also, a class or rank in society. ``Ladies of a high form.'' --Bp. Burnet. [1913 Webster]

9. The seat or bed of a hare. [1913 Webster]

As in a form sitteth a weary hare. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

10. (Print.) The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase. [1913 Webster]

11. (Fine Arts) The boundary line of a material object. In (painting), more generally, the human body. [1913 Webster]

12. (Gram.) The particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech; as, participial forms; verbal forms. [1913 Webster]

13. (Crystallog.) The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid. [1913 Webster]

14. (Metaph.) That assemblage or disposition of qualities which makes a conception, or that internal constitution which makes an existing thing to be what it is; -- called essential or substantial form, and contradistinguished from matter; hence, active or formative nature; law of being or activity; subjectively viewed, an idea; objectively, a law. [1913 Webster]

15. Mode of acting or manifestation to the senses, or the intellect; as, water assumes the form of ice or snow. In modern usage, the elements of a conception furnished by the mind's own activity, as contrasted with its object or condition, which is called the matter; subjectively, a mode of apprehension or belief conceived as dependent on the constitution of the mind; objectively, universal and necessary accompaniments or elements of every object known or thought of. [1913 Webster]

16. (Biol.) The peculiar characteristics of an organism as a type of others; also, the structure of the parts of an animal or plant. [1913 Webster]

{Good form} or {Bad form}, the general appearance, condition or action, originally of horses, afterwards of persons; as, the members of a boat crew are said to be in good form when they pull together uniformly. The phrases are further used colloquially in description of conduct or manners in society; as, it is not good form to smoke in the presence of a lady. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Form — (de) …   Kölsch Dialekt Lexikon

  • form — form·abil·i·ty; form·able; form·ably; form·al·de·hyde; form·amide; form·am·i·dine; form·a·zan; form·ful; form·ism; form·ist; form·less; Form·var; for·nic·i·form; fos·si·form; fo·ve·i·form; fruc·ti·form; fun·gi·form; fun·nel·form; fur·ci·form;… …   English syllables

  • Form — • The original meaning of the term form, both in Greek and Latin, was and is that in common use • eidos, being translated, that which is seen, shape, etc., with secondary meanings derived from this, as form, sort, particular, kind, nature… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • form — n 1 Form, figure, shape, conformation, configuration are comparable when they denote the disposition or arrangement of content that gives a particular aspect or appearance to a thing as distinguished from the substance of which that thing is made …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Form — may mean: *Form, the shape, appearance, or configuration, of an object *Form (furniture), a long seat or bench without a back *Form (education), a class, set or group of students *Form, a shallow depression or flattened nest of grass used by a… …   Wikipedia

  • Form — (Lehnwort von lat. forma) bezeichnet: Gestalt, die Art und Weise, wie etwas ist oder sich verändert im Sport die körperliche Verfassung eines Menschen, siehe Fitness Form (Kampfkunst), ein feststehender Bewegungsablauf in den Naturwissenschaften… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • form — n 1: the structure of something (as a document) as distinguished from its matter a defect in form, not substance 2: established procedure according to rule or practice see also form of action 3: a printed or typed document with blank spaces for… …   Law dictionary

  • form — [fôrm] n. [ME forme < OFr < L forma, a shape, figure, image < ? (via Etr) Gr morphē] 1. the shape, outline, or configuration of anything; structure as apart from color, material, etc. 2. a) the body or figure of a person or animal b) a… …   English World dictionary

  • Form 8-K — is a report required to be filed by public companies with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. After a significant event like bankruptcy or departure of a CEO, a public… …   Wikipedia

  • form — [n1] shape; arrangement anatomy, appearance, articulation, cast, configuration, conformation, construction, contour, cut, design, die, embodiment, fashion, figure, formation, framework, mode, model, mold, outline, pattern, plan, profile, scheme,… …   New thesaurus

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