Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Formal

Form′al

(fôrm′al)
,
Adj.
[L.
formalis
: cf. F.
formel
.]
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.
Of [the sounds represented by] letters, the material part is breath and voice; the
formal
is constituted by the motion and figure of the organs of speech.
Holder.
3.
Done in due form, or with solemnity; according to regular method; not incidental, sudden or irregular; express;
as, he gave his
formal
consent
.
His obscure funeral . . .
No noble rite nor
formal
ostentation.
Shakespeare
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
.
A cold-looking,
formal
garden, cut into angles and rhomboids.
W. Irwing.
She took off the
formal
cap that confined her hair.
Hawthorne.
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.
Still in constraint your suffering sex remains,
Or bound in
formal
or in real chains.
Pope.
7.
Sound; normal.
[Obs.]
To make of him a
formal
man again.
Shakespeare
Syn. – Precise; punctilious; stiff; starched; affected; ritual; ceremonial; external; outward.
Formal
,
Ceremonious
. When applied to things, these words usually denote a mere accordance with the rules of form or ceremony; as, to make a formal call; to take a ceremonious leave. When applied to a person or his manners, they are used in a bad sense; a person being called formal who shapes himself too much by some pattern or set form, and ceremonious when he lays too much stress on the conventional laws of social intercourse. Formal manners render a man stiff or ridiculous; a ceremonious carriage puts a stop to the ease and freedom of social intercourse.

Webster 1828 Edition


Formal

FORM'AL

,
Adj.
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.
Still in constraint your suffering sex remains, or bound in formal or in real chains.
7.
Having the power of making a thing what it is; constituent; essential.
Of letters the material part is breath and voice; the formal is constituted by the motions and figure of the organs of speech.
8.
Retaining its proper and essential characteristic; regular; proper.
To make of him a formal man again.

Definition 2024


formål

formål

See also: formal and formál

Danish

Noun

formål n (singular definite formålet, plural indefinite formål)

  1. purpose, cause (for doing something)

Declension


Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From for- + mål

Noun

formål n (definite singular formålet, indefinite plural formål, definite plural formåla or formålene)

  1. an objective
  2. a purpose
  3. a cause
    et godt formål - a good cause

References


Norwegian Nynorsk

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈfɔrmɒːl/ (example of pronunciation)

Noun

formål n (definite singular formålet, indefinite plural formål, definite plural formåla)

  1. Alternative form of føremål