SG Heritage Dictionary

Formal [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. According to form; agreeable to established mode; regular; methodical.

2. Strictly ceremonious; precise; exact to affectation; as a man formal in his dress, his gait or deportment.

3. Done in due form, or with solemnity; express; according to regular method; not incidental, sudden or irregular. He gave his formal consent to the treaty.

4. Regular; methodical; as the formal stars.

5. Having the form or appearance without the substance or essence; external; as formal duty; formal worship.

6. Depending on customary forms.

7. Still in constraint your suffering sex remains, or bound in formal or in real chains.

8. Having the power of making a thing what it is; constituent; essential.

9. Of letters the material part is breath and voice; the formal is constituted by the motions and figure of the organs of speech.

10. Retaining its proper and essential characteristic; regular; proper.

11. To make of him a formal man again.

Formal [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. Belonging to the form, shape, frame, external appearance, or organization of a thing.

2. Belonging to the constitution of a thing, as distinguished from the matter composing it; having the power of making a thing what it is; constituent; essential; pertaining to or depending on the forms, so called, of the human intellect.

3. Done in due form, or with solemnity; according to regular method; not incidental, sudden or irregular; express; as, he gave his formal consent.

4. Devoted to, or done in accordance with, forms or rules; punctilious; regular; orderly; methodical; of a prescribed form; exact; prim; stiff; ceremonious; as, a man formal in his dress, his gait, his conversation.

5. Having the form or appearance without the substance or essence; external; as, formal duty; formal worship; formal courtesy, etc.

6. Dependent in form; conventional.

7. Sound; normal.

Formal [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

See Methylal.

Formaldehyde [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A colorless, volatile liquid, H2CO, resembling acetic or ethyl aldehyde, and chemically intermediate between methyl alcohol and formic acid.

Formalism [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Formality. [The latter is generally used.]

Formalism [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

The practice or the doctrine of strict adherence to, or dependence on, external forms, esp. in matters of religion.

Formalist [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. One who observes forms, or practices external ceremonies. More generally,

2. One who regards appearances only, or observes the forms of worship, without possessing the life and spirit of religion; a hypocrite. A grave face and the regular practice of ceremonies have often gained to a formalist the reputation of piety.

Formalist [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

One overattentive to forms, or too much confined to them; esp., one who rests in external religious forms, or observes strictly the outward forms of worship, without possessing the life and spirit of religion.

Formalities [Plural] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Formality

Formality [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. The practice or observance of forms.

2. Formalities of extraordinary zeal and piety are never more studied and elaborate then in desperate designs.

3. Ceremony; mere conformity to customary modes.

4. Nor was his attendance on divine offices a matter of formality and custom, but of conscience.

5. Established order; rule of proceeding; mode; method; as the formalities of judicial process; formalities of law.

6. Order; decorum to be observed; customary mode of behavior.

7. Customary mode of dress; habit; robe.

8. External appearance.

9. Essence; the quality which constitutes a thing what it is.

10. The formality of the vow lies in the promise made to God.

11. In the schools, the manner in which a thing is conceived; or a manner in an object, importing a relation to the understanding, by which it may be distinguished from another object. Thus animality and rationality are formalities.

Formality [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. The condition or quality of being formal, strictly ceremonious, precise, etc.

2. Form without substance.

3. Compliance with formal or conventional rules; ceremony; conventionality.

4. An established order; conventional rule of procedure; usual method; habitual mode.

5. The dress prescribed for any body of men, academical, municipal, or sacerdotal.

6. That which is formal; the formal part.

7. The quality which makes a thing what it is; essence.

8. The manner in which a thing is conceived or constituted by an act of human thinking; the result of such an act; as, animality and rationality are formalities.

Formalize [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

To affect formality. [Little used.]

Formalize [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

To model. [Not used.]

Formalize [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

To affect formality.

Formalize [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. To give form, or a certain form, to; to model.

2. To render formal.

Formalized [Imperfect tense and past participle] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Formalize

Formalizing [Present participle and verbal noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Formalize

Formally [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. According to established form, rule, order, rite or ceremony. A treaty was concluded and formally ratified by both parties.

2. Ceremoniously; stiffly; precisely; as, to be stiff and formally reserved.

3. In open appearance; in a visible and apparent state.

4. You and your followers do stand formally divided against the authorized guides of the church, and the rest of the people.

5. Essentially; characteristically.

6. That which formally makes this [charity] a christian grace, is the spring from which it flows.

Formally [Adverb] Webster's Dictionary 1913

In a formal manner; essentially; characteristically; expressly; regularly; ceremoniously; precisely.

State Roget’s Thesaurus §7

N. state, condition, category, estate, lot, ease, trim, # mood, pickle, plight, temper, aspect, dilemma, pass, predicament, constitution, habitude, diathesis, frame, fabric, stamp, set, fit, mold, mould, mode, modality, schesis, form, tone, tenor, turn, trim, guise, fashion, light, complexion, style, character

V. be in a state, possess a state, enjoy a state, labor under a state, be on a footing, do, fare, come to pass

Adj. conditional, modal, formal, structural, organic

Adv. conditionally, as the matter stands, as things are, such being the case, relative

Conformity Roget’s Thesaurus §82

N. {opp. 83} conformity, conformance, observance, habituation, naturalization, conventionality, agreement, example, instance, specimen, sample, quotation, exemplification, illustration, case in point, object lesson, elucidation, standard, model, pattern, rule, nature, principle, law, order of things, normal state, natural state, ordinary state, model state, normal condition, natural condition, ordinary condition, model condition, standing dish, standing order, procrustean law, law of the medes and persians, hard and fast rule

V. conform to, conform to rule, accommodate oneself to, adapt oneself to, rub off corners, be regular, move in a groove, follow observe the rules, go by the rules, bend to the rules, obey the rules, obey the precedents, comply with, tally with, chime in with, fall in with, be guided by, be regulated by, fall into a custom, fall into a usage, follow the fashion, follow the crowd, follow the multitude, pass muster, do as others do, hurler avec les loups, stand on ceremony, when in rome do as the romans do, go with the stream, go with the flow, swim with the stream, swim with the current, swim with the tide, blow with the wind, stick to the beaten track, keep one in countenance, exemplify, illustrate, cite, quote, quote precedent, quote authority, appeal to authority, put a case, produce an instance, elucidate, explain

Adj. conformable to rule, regular, according to regulation, according to rule, according to hoyle, according to cocker, according to gunter, en regle, selon les regles, well regulated, orderly, symmetric, conventional, of daily occurrence, of everyday occurrence, in the natural order of things, ordinary, common, habitual, usual, everyday, workaday, in the order of the day, naturalized, typical, normal, nominal, formal, canonical, orthodox, sound, strict, rigid, positive, uncompromising, procrustean, secundum artem, shipshape, technical, exemple, illustrative, in point

Adv. conformably, by rule, agreeably to, in conformity with, in accordance with, in keeping with, according to, consistently with, as usual, ad instar, instar omnium, more solito, more-majorum, for the sake of conformity, as a matter of course, of course, pro forma, for form's sake, by the card, invariably, &c. (uniformly) 16, for example, exempli gratia, e, g, inter alia, among other things, for instance

Phr. cela va sans dire, ex pede herculem, noscitur a sociis, ne e quovis ligno mercurius fiat, "they are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations", "the nail that sticks up will get hammered down", "stick your neck out and it may get cut off."

Affirmation Roget’s Thesaurus §535

N. affirmance, affirmation, statement, allegation, assertion, predication, declaration, word, averment, confirmation, asseveration, adjuration, swearing, oath, affidavit, deposition, avouchment, assurance, protest, protestation, profession, acknowledgment, legal pledge, pronouncement, solemn averment, solemn avowal, solemn declaration, remark, observation, position, saying, dictum, sentence, ipse dixit, emphasis, weight, dogmatism, dogmatics

V. assert, make an assertion, have one's say, say, affirm, predicate, declare, state, protest, profess, put forth, put forward, advance, allege, propose, propound, enunciate, broach, set forth, hold out, maintain, contend, pronounce, pretend, depose, depone, aver, avow, avouch, asseverate, swear, make oath, take one's oath, make an affidavit, swear an affidavit, put in an affidavit, take one's bible oath, kiss the book, vow, vitam impendere vero, swear till one is black in the face, swear till one is blue in the face, swear till all's blue, be sworn, call heaven to witness, vouch, warrant, certify, assure, swear by bell book and candle, swear by, insist upon, take one's stand upon, emphasize, lay stress on, assert roundly, assert positively, lay down, lay down the law, raise one's voice, dogmatize, have the last word, rap out, repeat, reassert, reaffirm, announce, acknowledge, attest, adjure

Adj. asserting, declaratory, predicatory, pronunciative, affirmative, soi-disant, positive, certain, express, explicit, absolute, emphatic, flat, broad, round, pointed, marked, distinct, decided, confident, trenchant, dogmatic, definitive, formal, solemn, categorical, peremptory, unretracted, predicable

Adv. affirmatively, in the affirmative, with emphasis, ex-cathedra, without fear of contradiction, as god is my witness, i must say, indeed, i' faith, let me tell you, why, give me leave to say, marry, you may be sure, i'd have you to know, upon my word, upon my honor, by my troth, egad, i assure you, by jingo, by jove, by george, &c, troth, seriously, sadly, in sadness, in sober sadness, in truth, in earnest, of a truth, truly, perdy, in all conscience, upon oath, be assured, yes, i'll warrant, i'll warrant you, i'll engage, i'll answer for it, i'll be bound, i'll venture to say, i'll take my oath, in fact, forsooth, joking apart, so help me god, not to mince the matter

Phr. quoth he, dixi

Inelegance Roget’s Thesaurus §579

N. inelegance, stiffness, "unlettered muse", barbarism, slang, solecism, mannerism, euphuism, fustian, cacophony, words that break the teeth, words that dislocate the jaw, marinism

V. be inelegant

Adj. inelegant, graceless, ungraceful, harsh, abrupt, dry, stiff, cramped, formal, guinde, forced, labored, artificial, mannered, ponderous, awkward, uncourtly, unpolished, turgid, affected, euphuistic, barbarous, uncouth, grotesque, rude, crude, halting, offensive to ears polite, 2. spoken language

Affectation Roget’s Thesaurus §855

N. affectation, affectedness, acting a part, pretense, (ostentation) 882, boasting, charlatanism, quackery, shallow profundity, pretension, airs, pedantry, purism, precisianism, euphuism, teratology, mannerism, simagree, grimace, conceit, foppery, dandyism, man millinery, coxcombry, puppyism, stiffness, formality, buckram, prudery, demureness, coquetry, mock modesty, minauderie, sentimentalism, mauvais honte, false shame, affector, performer, actor, pedant, pedagogue, doctrinaire, purist, euphuist, mannerist, grimacier, lump of affectation, precieuse ridicule, bas bleu, blue stocking, poetaster, prig, charlatan, petit maitre, flatterer, coquette, prude, puritan

V. affect, act a part, put on, give oneself airs, boast, coquet, simper, mince, attitudinize, pose, flirt a fan, overact, overdo

Adj. affected, full of affectation, pretentious, pedantic, stilted, stagy, theatrical, big-sounding, ad captandum, canting, insincere, not natural, unnatural, self-conscious, maniere, artificial, overwrought, overdone, overacted, euphuist, stiff, starch, formal, prim, smug, demure, tire a quatre epingles, quakerish, puritanical, prudish, pragmatical, priggish, conceited, coxcomical, foppish, dandified, finical, finikin, mincing, simpering, namby-pamby, sentimental

Phr. "conceit in weakest bodies strongest works"

Ostentation Roget’s Thesaurus §882

N. ostentation, display, show, flourish, parade, etalage, pomp, array, state, solemnity, dash, splash, splurge, glitter, strut, pomposity, pretense, pretensions, showing off, fuss, magnificence, splendor, coup d'oeil, grand doings, coup de theatre, stage effect, stage trick, claptrap, mise en scene, tour de force, chic, demonstration, flying colors, tomfoolery, flourish of trumpets, pageant, pageantry, spectacle, exhibition, exposition, procession, turn out, set out, grand function, fte, gala, field day, review, march past, promenade, insubstantial pageant, dress, court dress, full dress, evening dress, ball dress, fancy dress, tailoring, millinery, man millinery, frippery, foppery, equipage, ceremony, ceremonial, ritual, form, formality, etiquette, puncto, punctilio, punctiliousness, starched stateliness, stateliness, mummery, solemn mockery, mouth honor, attitudinarian, fop

V. be ostentatious, come forward, put oneself forward, attract attention, star it, cut a figure, make a dash, make a splash, make a splurge, cut a dash, cut a splash, cut a splurge, figure, figure away, make a show, make a display, glitter, show off, show off one's paces, parade, march past, display, exhibit, put forward, hold up, trot out, hand out, sport, brandish, blazon forth, dangle, dangle before the eyes, cry up, proner, flaunt, emblazon, prink, set off, mount, have framed and glazed, put a good face upon, put a smiling face upon, clean the outside of the platter

Adj. ostentatious, showy, dashing, pretentious, janty, jaunty, grand, pompous, palatial, high-sounding, turgid, gairish, garish, gaudy, gaudy as a peacock, gaudy as a butterfly, gaudy as a tulip, flaunting, flashing, flaming, glittering, gay, splendid, magnificent, sumptuous, theatrical, dramatic, spectacular, ceremonial, ritual, solemn, stately, majestic, formal, stiff, ceremonious, punctilious, starched, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, decjed out, all decked out, en granite tenue, in best bib and tucker, in sunday best, endimanch, chic

Adv. with flourish of trumpet, with beat of drum, with flying colors, ad captandum vulgus

Phr. honores mutant mores