Middle English Dictionary Entry
fō̆rmāl adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | fō̆rmāl adj. Also formel(le. |
| Etymology | L formāl-is, OF formel. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In due or proper form; according to established procedure; orderly, correct, regular, conventional; ~ argument, argument following the rules of logic; (b) ?beautiful, shapely.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1425 Hoccl.RP (Roy 17.D.6)p.72 : Ye may laughe at my..speche..I am no thyng formelle.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)8 : An exposicioun of þe preier ycallid pater noster..sufficient for alle boonys asking, such as is formal and ordinat in dewe ordre and processe of asking.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)426 : Here is a feire resonyng and a ful formal argument.
- (1449) Rec.Norwich 2282 : The Mair or the Gouernour of the cite for þe tyme beyng shall make and name ȝerely þe wardeyn of that mystere, in asmoche as ther may be made no formall eleccion þerin.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.4.5a : Alwey the clernesse amenused dounward be veari formal processe, even to the veray centre that was veary derke.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)12/26 : Þe formal and wel schapen procedyng in leernyng and kunnyng.
- a1500(a1471) Ashby APP (Cmb Mm.4.42)521 : Prouide that lawe may be excercised And executed in his formal cours Aftur the statutes autorised.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)353 : He can yeve you best counseil & moost formal.
b
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)267 : What lady onlife hadd more formall shappe? What woman euer hadd more felicyte?
2.
Math. Pertaining to form or arrangement.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.157 : The wise man acompteth After the formel proprete Of Algorismes Abece.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)33/19 : Sothely 2 manere of nombres ben notifiede: Materialle, as nombre is vnitees gadrede togedres; Formalle, as nombre is a colleccioun of vnitees.
3.
Med. ~ medicine, a medicine limited in its application to one type of disease or to one part of the body, a specific remedy.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)166a/a : [Medicinez] þat haþ for to do þat indeterminate perticulez which in þer manerez ar seid specifice .i. speciale or formale [*Ch.(2): formales], as medicynez laxatiuez & vrinatiuez and also siȝt illuminatyuez, heryng acutyuez .i. sharping & sich kynde.
4.
Phil. (a) Pertaining to the form, or essence, of a thing (rather than to the matter); capable of imparting the characteristics of a type or species, formative; providing form, providing the essential nature; (b) ~ vertu, power of imparting form, power to give something the characteristics of its type or species; (c) ~ cause, formative principle; the manner in which something develops, is done, or is made; ?also, = formal vertu.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)119b/b : Liȝt..conteyneþ alle bodies and is formal in comparisoun to hem, þouh hit be materia in hit self..for liȝt is material, it may haue diuers parties in diuers place; and it is formal, hit haþ in dede diuers parties in diuers place.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.64va (2.8) : Þer be 2 principal membres of lif in man: on þat is callede 'membrum formale vite hominis' (anglice: þe formal membre in man), s. 'cor.' And it is callede þe formal membre of lif be cause of kynd het, whiche kynde hete is callede 'instrumentum' of myȝt & vertu & of wirkyng of kynde in man.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)46b/a : It is no wonder yf in þe ydropisy of a hote cause in þe same partie of þe lyuer is colde & hete togider; one as fourmed & coniuncte, þe toþer as fourmyng & antecedyng; one naturale, þe toþer biside nature; One materiale, þe toþer formale [*Ch.(2): þat one is of þe mater, þat oþer of þe fourme]; One apperyng, þe toþer hidde.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)43b : Bothe principalles materiall must lowsed be, And formall; elles stondeth the lyttell in stead.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)82.251 (v.2:p.94) : Fyre amonge al othir elementis is moste formal and leste material.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)70b/b : In þe male beþ vertues formal & of schapinge [L virtutes formales] & werchinge, and in þe femel material suffringe & passiue.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)21/12 : Þe foormal vertu which almyȝty god haþ ȝeue to þe maris ordeyneþ & diuidid euery partie of þese spermes in her kynde til þat þe child be born.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)38b : The vertue of the mouer of worlde is formall, The vertue of the iij spere is here instrumentall.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2590 : The cause formal is the manere of hir werkynge that broghten laddres and clomben in at thy wyndowes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)60b/a : In þe male is þe cause formal & principal worchinge..Of þe male comeþ cause of meuynge & of schap.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)119a/b : Eueriche is diuers fro oþir, þouȝ none of hem be material cause noþir formal to oþir.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)122a/a : Causez forsoþ of herez ar 4..Cause efficient is naturale hete..Cause materiale, þe selfe vapour ydried; Cause formale [*Ch.(2): formel cause], dewe porosite of þe selfe skyn; Cause finale forsoþ is anournyng or fairenez.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)17 : The formal cause Settyth in dew ordre clause be clause, And these thre thyngys longyn to 'what': Auctour, matere, and forme ordinat.