Definition of form:

• 1. A model or skeleton of an instrument to be used in a judicial proceeding,containing the principal necessary matters, the proper technical terms or phrases, andwhatever else is necessary to make it formally correct, arranged in proper and methodicalorder, and capable of being adapted to the circumstances of the specific case.2. As distinguished from " substance," " form" means the legal or technical manner ororder to be observed in legal instruments or juridical proceedings, or In the constructionof legal documents or processes.The distinction between " form" and " substance" is often important in reference tothe validity or amendment of pleadings. If the matter of the plea is bad or insufficient,irrespective of the manner of setting it forth, thedefect is one of substance. If the matter of the plea is good and sufficient, but isinartificially or defectively pleaded, the defect is one of form. Pierson v. Insurance Co., 7 Houst. ( Del.) 307, 31 Atl. 060.
• 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.
• To take a form.
• To give shape to; create; mold to a particular pattern; conceive or imagine; constitute; devise; adjust.
• To give form or shape to: to make: to contrive: to settle, as an opinion: to combine: to go to make up: to establish: ( gram.) to make by derivation.
• To give form to; settle; make up.
• To make; construct; conceive; compose.
• To take a form, definite shape, or arrangement; as, the infantry should form in column.
• To run to a form, as a hare.
• To take shape.
• To assume a form.
• 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"
• develop into a distinctive entity; " our plans began to take shape"
• establish or impress firmly in the mind; " We imprint our ideas onto our children"
• To assume a specific form.
• To make; to give shape to; to mould; to plan; to arrange; to settle; to contrive; to make up; to frame; to combine; to establish; to compile; to constitute; to make by derivation, or by affixes or prefixes.
• To shape; to fashion; to mould; to contrive; to combine; to make; to constitute; to go to make up.
• the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance; " geometry is the mathematical science of shape"
• a mold for setting concrete; " they built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation"
• a particular mode in which something is manifested; " his resentment took the form of extreme hostility"
• an ability to perform well; " he was at the top of his form"; " the team was off form last night"
• the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word; " the inflected forms of a word can be represented by a stem and a list of inflections to be attached"
• 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"
• 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"
• ( 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"
• ( biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups; " a new strain of microorganisms"
• 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"
• a printed document with spaces in which to write; " he filled out his tax form"
• give a shape or form to; " shape the dough"
• give shape to; " form the clay into a head"
• A suffix used to denote in the form / shape of, resembling, etc.; as, valiform; oviform.
• 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.
• Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system; as, a republican form of government.
• Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula; as, a form of prayer.
• Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality; as, a matter of mere form.
• Orderly arrangement; shapeliness; also, comeliness; elegance; beauty.
• A shape; an image; a phantom.
• That by which shape is given or determined; mold; pattern; model.
• A long seat; a bench; hence, a rank of students in a school; a class; also, a class or rank in society.
• The seat or bed of a hare.
• The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase.
• The particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech; as, participial forms; verbal forms.
• The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid.
• 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.
• 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.
• The peculiar characteristics of an organism as a type of others; also, the structure of the parts of an animal or plant.
• To give form or shape to; to frame; to construct; to make; to fashion.
• 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.
• To provide with a form, as a hare. See Form, n., 9.
• To derive by grammatical rules, as by adding the proper suffixes and affixes.
• A suffix used to denote in the shape of, resembling, etc.; as, valiform; oviform.
• 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 external or outward appearance or shape of anything; image; likeness; orderly arrangement; established practice, or ritual; a mold or pattern; a long bench without a back; a class; manner; as, he was playing in good form.
• A Latin termination denoting like, in the form of; as, vermiform, wormlike, falciform, scythe- like, ensiform, sword- like, oviform, in the form of an egg, etc.
• A bench; class; bed of a hare.
• Shape; figure; model; method; ceremony; type arranged and ready for the press.
• The shape of a body; figure; contour; appearance; style; kind.
• Ritual; ceremony.
• A mold; model; formula; type in a chase ready for the press.
• A long bench without a back.
• The shape or external appearance of a body; disposition of particular things; model; a mould; formula; beauty; order; mere external appearance; established practice; ceremony; determinate shape; likeness; manner; system, as of government; manner of arrangement; a long seat or bench; a class; the bed of a hare; an assemblage of types arranged in order, disposed into pages, and locked in a chase to receive an impression: condition; condition fit for a purpose. Essential or substantial form, that mode of existence which cannot cease without destroying a thing.
• The shape or external appearance of anything; a pattern; a mould; beauty; stated method; ceremony; ritual; something not essential; a long seat used in a school; name applied to one of the classes of a great public school, as first form, sixth form, & c., pronounced form; types set up ready for printing.
• Former.

Usage examples for form

1. The form of a man was, for an instant, distinctly seen, close to the summer- house.  The Good Time Coming by T. S. Arthur

2. " Nobody has been here that is interested into anything you are interested into in the slightest form or manner," Mr. Gubb assured him, and Alibaba Singh sighed with relief.  Philo Gubb Correspondence-School Detective by Ellis Parker Butler

3. No man is ever touched by such an empty form.  Principles of Teaching by Adam S. Bennion

4. In order to form such a party a campaign of education will be necessary.  The Complete PG Edition of The Works of Winston Churchill by Winston Churchill