Form (fōrm; in senses 8 & 9, often fōrm 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.
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The form of his visage was changed. Dan. iii. 19.
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And woven close close, both matter, form, and style. Milton.
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2. Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system; as, a republican form of government.
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3. Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula; as, a form of prayer.
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Those whom form of laws
Condemned to die. Dryden.
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4. Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality; as, a matter of mere form.
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Though well we may not pass upon his life
Without the form of justice. Shak.
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5. Orderly arrangement; shapeliness; also, comeliness; elegance; beauty.
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The earth was without form and void. Gen. i. 2.
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He hath no form nor comeliness. Is. liii. 2.
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6. A shape; an image; a phantom.
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7. That by which shape is given or determined; mold; pattern; model.
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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.
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9. The seat or bed of a hare.
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As in a form sitteth a weary hare. Chaucer.
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10. (Print.) The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase.
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11. (Fine Arts) The boundary line of a material object. In (painting), more generally, the human body.
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12. (Gram.) The particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech; as, participial forms; verbal forms.
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13. (Crystallog.) The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid.
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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.
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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.
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16. (Biol.) The peculiar characteristics of an organism as a type of others; also, the structure of the parts of an animal or plant.
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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.
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Form, v. i. 1. To take a form, definite shape, or arrangement; as, the infantry should form in column.
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2. To run to a form, as a hare. B. Jonson.
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To form on (Mil.), to form a lengthened line with reference to (any given object) as a basis.
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