Form : (noun)
1: the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a
word that can be used to describe or identify something;
"the inflected forms of a word can be represented by a
stem and a list of inflections to be attached" [syn: word
form, signifier, descriptor]
2: a category of things distinguished by some common
characteristic or quality; "sculpture is a form of art";
"what kinds of desserts are there?" [syn: kind, sort,
variety]
3: a perceptual structure; "the composition presents problems
for students of musical form"; "a visual pattern must
include not only objects but the spaces between them"
[syn: shape, pattern]
4: any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline);
"he could barely make out their shapes through the smoke"
[syn: shape, configuration, contour, conformation]
5: alternative names for the body of a human being; "Leonardo
studied the human body"; "he has a strong physique"; "the
spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" [syn: human body,
physical body, material body, soma, build, figure,
physique, anatomy, shape, bod, chassis, frame,
flesh]
6: the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its
substance; "geometry is the mathematical science of shape"
[syn: shape]
7: the visual appearance of something or someone; "the delicate
cast of his features" [syn: shape, cast]
8: (physical chemistry) a distinct state of matter in a system;
matter that is identical in chemical composition and
physical state and separated from other material by the
phase boundary; "the reaction occurs in the liquid phase
of the system" [syn: phase]
9: a printed document with spaces in which to write; "he filled
out his tax form"
10: (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ
in trivial ways from similar groups; "a new strain of
microorganisms" [syn: variant, strain, var.]
11: an arrangement of the elements in a composition or
discourse; "the essay was in the form of a dialogue"; "he
first sketches the plot in outline form"
12: a particular mode in which something is manifested; "his
resentment took the form of extreme hostility"
13: a body of students who are taught together; "early morning
classes are always sleepy" [syn: class, grade]
14: an ability to perform well; "he was at the top of his form";
"the team was off form last night"
15: a life-size dummy used to display clothes [syn: mannequin,
manikin, mannikin, manakin]
16: a mold for setting concrete; "they built elaborate forms for
pouring the foundation"
(verb)
1: to compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of
the stage setting"; "The branches made a roof"; "This
makes a fine introduction" [syn: constitute, make]
2: create (as an entity); "social groups form everywhere";
"They formed a company" [syn: organize, organise]
3: develop into a distinctive entity; "our plans began to take
shape" [syn: take form, take shape, spring]
4: give a shape or form to; "shape the dough" [syn: shape]
5: make something, usually for a specific function; "She molded
the riceballs carefully"; "Form cylinders from the dough";
"shape a figure"; "Work the metal into a sword" [syn: shape,
work, mold, mould, forge]
6: establish or impress firmly in the mind; "We imprint our
ideas onto our children" [syn: imprint]
7: give shape to; "form the clay into a head" [ant: deform]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Form : \Form\, v. t. (Elec.)
To treat (plates) so as to bring them to fit condition for
introduction into a storage battery, causing one plate to be
composed more or less of spongy lead, and the other of lead
peroxide. This was formerly done by repeated slow
alternations of the charging current, but now the plates or
grids are coated or filled, one with a paste of red lead and
the other with litharge, introduced into the cell, and formed
by a direct charging current.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Form : \form\ [See Form, n.]
A suffix used to denote in the form or shape of, resembling,
etc.; as, valiform; oviform.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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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.
The form of his visage was changed. --Dan. iii.
19.
And woven close close, both matter, form, and style.
--Milton.
2. Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.;
system; as, a republican form of government.
3. Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of
proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula; as, a
form of prayer.
Those whom form of laws Condemned to die. --Dryden.
4. Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain,
trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality;
formality; as, a matter of mere form.
Though well we may not pass upon his life Without
the form of justice. --Shak.
5. Orderly arrangement; shapeliness; also, comeliness;
elegance; beauty.
The earth was without form and void. --Gen. i. 2.
He hath no form nor comeliness. --Is. liii. 2.
6. A shape; an image; a phantom.
7. That by which shape is given or determined; mold; pattern;
model.
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.
9. The seat or bed of a hare.
As in a form sitteth a weary hare. --Chaucer.
10. (Print.) The type or other matter from which an
impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a
chase.
11. (Fine Arts) The boundary line of a material object. In
painting, more generally, the human body.
12. (Gram.) The particular shape or structure of a word or
part of speech; as, participial forms; verbal forms.
13. (Crystallog.) The combination of planes included under a
general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a
closed solid.
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.
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.
16. (Biol.) The peculiar characteristics of an organism as a
type of others; also, the structure of the parts of an
animal or plant.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Form : \Form\, v. i.
1. To take a form, definite shape, or arrangement; as, the
infantry should form in column.
2. To run to a form, as a hare. --B. Jonson.
To form on (Mil.), to form a lengthened line with reference
to (any given object) as a basis.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Form : \Form\ (f[^o]rm), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Formed (f[^o]rmd);
p. pr. & vb. n. Forming.] [F. former, L. formare, fr.
forma. See Form, n.]
1. To give form or shape to; to frame; to construct; to make;
to fashion.
God formed man of the dust of the ground. --Gen. ii.
7.
The thought that labors in my forming brain. --Rowe.
2. To give a particular shape to; to shape, mold, or fashion
into a certain state or condition; to arrange; to adjust;
also, to model by instruction and discipline; to mold by
influence, etc.; to train.
'T is education forms the common mind. --Pope.
Thus formed for speed, he challenges the wind.
--Dryden.
3. To go to make up; to act as constituent of; to be the
essential or constitutive elements of; to answer for; to
make the shape of; -- said of that out of which anything
is formed or constituted, in whole or in part.
The diplomatic politicians . . . who formed by far
the majority. --Burke.
4. To provide with a form, as a hare. See Form, n., 9.
The melancholy hare is formed in brakes and briers.
--Drayton.
5. (Gram.) To derive by grammatical rules, as by adding the
proper suffixes and affixes.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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FORM, practice. The model of an instrument or legal-proceeding, containing
the substance and the principal terms, to be used in accordance with the
laws; or, it is the act of pursuing, in legal proceedings, and in the
construction of legal instruments, the order required by law.Form : is
usually put in contradistinction to substance. For example, by the operation
of the statute of 27 Eliz. c. 5, s. 1, all merely formal defects in
pleading, except in dilatory pleas, are aided on general demurrer.
2. The difference between matter of form, and matter of substance, in
general, under this statute, as laid down by Lord Hobart, is, that "that
without which the right doth sufficiently appear to the court, is form;" but
that any defect "by reason whereof the right appears not," is a defect in
substance. Hob. 233.
3. A distinction somewhat more definite, is, that if the matter pleaded
be in itself insufficient, without reference to the manner of pleading it,
the defect is substantial; but that if the fault is in the manner of
alleging it, the defect is formal. Dougl. 683. For example, the omission of
a consideration in a declaration in assumpsit; or of the performance of a
condition precedent, when such condition exists; of a conversion of property
of the plaintiff, in trover; of knowledge in the defendant, in an action for
mischief done by his dog of malice, in action for malicious prosecution, and
the like, are all defects in substance. On the other hand, duplicity; a
negative pregnant; argumentative pleading; a special plea, amounting to the
general issue; omission of a day, when time is immaterial; of a place, in
transitory actions, and the like, are only faults in form. Bac. Ab. Pleas,
&c. N 5, 6; Com. Dig. Pleader, Q 7; 10 Co. 95 a; 2 Str. 694 Gould; Pl. c. 9,
Sec. 17, 18; 1 Bl. Com. 142.
4. At the same time that fastidious objections against trifling errors
of form, arising from mere clerical mistakes, are not encouraged or
sanctioned by the courts, it has been justly observed, that "infinite
mischief has been produced by the facility of the courts in overlooking
matters of form; it encourages carelessness, and places ignorance too much
upon a footing with knowledge amongst those who practice the drawing of
pleadings." 1 B. & P. 59; 2 Binn. Rep. 434. See, generally, Bouv. Inst.
Index, h.t.
Based on Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [Bouvier_Law_Dictionary]:
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