01 n. The shape and structure of anything, as distinguished from the material of which it is composed; particular disposition or arrangement of m…
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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.
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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.“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.“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.“The earth was without form and void.” — Gen. i. 2.“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.
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9.
The seat or bed of a hare.“As in a form sitteth a weary hare.” — Chaucer.
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10.
The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase.(Print.)
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11.
The boundary line of a material object. In (painting), more generally, the human body.(Fine Arts)
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12.
The particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech; as, participial forms; verbal forms.(Gram.)
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13.
The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid.(Crystallog.)
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14.
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.(Metaph.)
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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.
The peculiar characteristics of an organism as a type of others; also, the structure of the parts of an animal or plant.(Biol.)
Phrases & compounds
Good 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.