Middle English Dictionary Entry
formāciǒun, -tiōn n.
Entry Info
| Forms | formāciǒun, -tiōn n. |
| Etymology | OF, & L formātiōn-em. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Act of creating or making, creation, production; (b) fig. creator.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)5158 : Þe significacioun Of making of Adam..þe formacioun of Eue.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)41.20 (v.1:p.269) : Why the daies ben doublid in formacion of a womman's body, and also of the infusion of the soule, othir thre causis Ianuence assigneth.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)222 : They lyfte hit clene by hygh elacion, The most noble regale formacion.
- a1500(a1471) Ashby APP (Cmb Mm.4.42)5 : Maisters Gower, Chauucer & Lydgate..Firste finders..Off fresshe, douce englisshe and formacioun Of newe balades.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)11/50,52 : The worlde that is both voyde and vayne, I forme in this formation..These workes now be done by my devyne formation.
b
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)357/80 : Myche more owe I..to desyre yowre presens that were oure ferste formacyon.
2.
Phys. vertu of ~, a force within the bodies of plants and animals which aids in controlling reproduction and in determining the forms of the various organs. [See Bartholomeus Anglicus, De Proprietatibus 1.14].
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)65a/b : If þe place aboute þe yȝen haþ moche fleisch, it..defautiþ þe vertue of formacioun & schap [Tol: formacion & schap], and so if..þe vertue of formacioun & schap [L vertus informatiua] be febil, þan wondirful passiouns & iueles breden in þe body.