formation 
2. Disposition of parts or elements; formal 
struftim 1 or arrangement; conformation; con- 
liguralioti: as, the peculiar ./"W/HII/I'WI of the 
iiriirt ; \\fnnniii'ii>ii i if troops in columns, scjna vs. 
Tlie doomed men marched on, without any f"> -inftfimi. 
E. Sartorinn, In the Soudan, p. 63. 
The well-disciplined picket hail jroiii 1 ri^iit-ahoilt-face 
like a >iirjlr IKTSUM. They maintained this.//-^^/'m all 
the while we were in sight. 
It. L. Stevenson, Inland Voyage, p. 143. 
3. That which is formed; anything considered 
as to its form, structure, or arrangement : as, 
theforintttioii consisted of a mass of incongruous 
materials. Specifically 4. In geol., properly, 
a group or assemblage of rocks, whether strati- 
fied or unstratified, having a similar origin or 
some common physical character, some geologists 
use the word formation as the equivalent of system, or as 
designating a group of strata having the same geological 
age. See 8u*t< >u, 
Thus in specks of stratified and unstratified, fresh-water 
and marine, aqueous and volcanic, ancient and modern, 
metalliform and non-metalliform/orma(w>n. 
Lyell, Manual of Geology, p. 3. 
"Formerly it was considered sufficient to collect the more 
typical specimens of a species, and to be satisfied with a 
general collection to represent the Formation." To this 
is added in a note: "the term formation is in some re- 
spects objectionable, hut it is convenient, and no satisfac- 
tory substitute has as yet been proposed." 
Prestwinh, Geology, p. 5. 
Alluvial formations. See alluvial. Free-cell forma- 
tion. See free. Polar formation, in math,, the appli- 
cation of the operation x ,D,, + x.D,, +, etc. 
formational (for-ma'shon-ai), a. [< formation 
+ -al.] Pertaining to formation or formations. 
Fonnational and historical geology. 
Amer. Jour. Sci., 3d ser., XXXII. 244. 
formative (for'ma-tiv), a. and n. [< F. for- 
matif = Pr. formatiu = Sp. Pg. It. formatiro, 
< NL. formativiis, < L. formare, pp. formatus, 
form: see form, r.] I. a. 1. Giving form or 
shape ; having the power of giving form ; plas- 
tic ; shaping; molding; determining: as, the 
formative yolk of an egg, which changes into 
an embryo; a formative process. 
The meanest plant cannot be raised without seeds by 
any formative power residing in the soil. 
Bentley, Sermons. 
Cumberland substitutes throughout for the idea of right 
as formative in ethics that of natural good. 
Bibliotheca Sacra, XLIII. 642. 
2. Pertaining to formation or development; 
related to the fixation of or growth into form 
or order: as, the formative period of youth or 
of a nation; formative experiments. 
The man who has learned it [history] as he learns French 
or German from a travelling conversation book does not 
gain either the formative effect on the judgment, or the 
great inheritance of scientific study. 
Stubbtt, Medieval and .Modern Hist., p. 73. 
To them who did not consider the formatire nature of 
the book ... it seemed as if the young author [Swin- 
burne] was lusting after strange gods. 
Stedman, Viet. Poets, p. 390. 
3. In gram., serving to form; determining gram- 
matical form or character as a part of speech 
or derivative ; inflectional: as, a formative ter- 
mination. 
II. n. In gram., a formative element of a 
word; that which serves to give grammatical 
form ; an addition to or modification of a root 
or crude form, giving it special character. 
formator (for'ma-tor), n. [< L. formator, a 
former, shaper, <. formare, form, shape: see 
form, v. Cf. former*.] Same as conformatoi: 
formature (for'ma-tur), n. [= Pg. formatiira; 
< L. as if "formatura, (. formare, form: see 
form, n.] The act of shaping or forming. 
[Rare.] 
These infant communities were easily susceptible of 
formature by leading men. The Churchman, LIV. 489. 
form-board (form'bord), . An inferior kind 
of pasteboard used for packing, bookbinding, 
etc. It is made from waste paper, refuse rags, 
and coarser portions of the pulp. 
formeH, [ME., < AS. forma, first: see for- 
mer 1 .] Former; first. 
Adam oure forme fader. Chaucer, Tale of Melibens. 
forme 2 (form), . A Middle English spelling of 
form, still retained in English and Scotch usage 
among printers. See form, n., 6. 
forme (for-ma')i a. [F., pp. of former, form: 
see form, v.] In her., same as patU. 
formed (formd), a. 1. Arranged, as stars into 
a constellation. 2. In her., seated or crouched 
as in its form: said of a hare. 3. Trained; 
developed; mature: as, a formed character. 
Formed bachelor. See bachelor, 2. 
2336 
formedont (for'mo-don), n. [L. Jormit d<ini.] 
In olil KIII/. I/in', a writ of right for tin 1 vi-o\ 
ery of lands by one claiming according to the 
form of a gift or grant thereof Formedon in 
the descender, such a writ brought by the heir in tail 
airainst an ali-'iier of a prco-iiing tenant in tail. For- 
medon in the reverter, sm-h a writ brought i>y tin- 
one entitled to the reversion. 
formelt, [M.TZ.formel,formele,fori>itn//lt. ap- 
par. an altered form, in simulation of ME./r- 
met, female, female, of OF. forme, a female of 
the falcon or hawk kind.] The female of the 
falcon family of birds. 
Nature held on hire bond 
Aformele egle. 
Chaitcer, Parliament of Fowls, 1. 373. 
form-element (f6rm'el"e-ment), n. Anything 
that enters into the structure or composition 
of something else, giving it a recognizable 
form or constitution. Thus, the corpuscles of the 
blood are form-elements of that fluid ; a cell is a form- 
element of any tissue; an ultimate fibril of muscle Is a 
form-element of flesh. 
formenet (for'men), . [< form-ic + -cue.] 
Methane, or marsh-gas. 
former 1 (for'mer), a. and n. [Mod. E., with 
compar. suffix -er, < ME. forme, first, < AS. 
forma, first (= OS. forma = OFries. forma), < 
for, fore, fore, before, 4- -ma, superl. suffix. 
8eefor,forel, and cf. foremost.] I. a. If. Be- 
ing before in place ; fore ; first ; foremost. 
He was euer in the former fronte, and hilde Calibonrne 
in his right honde, and smote on the right side and on the 
lifte. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. .v.l. 
Coining from Sardis, on om former ensign 
Two mighty eagles fell ; and there they perch 'd. 
>'Ai., J. C., V. 1. 
2. Being or happening before in time; pre- 
ceding another or something else in order of 
time; prior. 
He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and for- 
mer rain unto the earth. Hos. vi. 3. 
Tis but the Fnn'ral of theformer year. 
Pope, To Mrs. M. B. 
At what/ormer period, under what/orwr administra- 
tion, did public officers of the United States thus interfere 
in elections? D. Webster, Speech, Oct. 12, 1832. 
3. Past; especially, long past; ancient. 
Enquire, I pray thee, of the former age. Job viii. 8. 
After-Ages can know nothing of former Times but what 
is recorded by writing. Bakrr, Chronicles, p. 1. 
4. Preceding or going before in a series; an- 
tecedent in order of thought, of action, etc.: 
specifically applied to the antecedent one of 
two things, or of two parts or divisions of any- 
thing. 
Then speak again ; not all thy/oruicr tale, 
But this one word. Shak., K. John, iii. 1. 
My t\vo former (letters) were of Judaism and Christian- 
ity. Unwell, Letters, ii. 10. 
A bad author deserves better usage than a had critic ; a 
man may ) the former merely through the misfortune of 
want of Judgment ; but he cannot be the latter without 
both that and an ill temper. Pope. 
Former adjudication. See adjudication. =8yn. 2. Prior, 
anterior, antecedent. See previous. 3. Bygone. 
II. t n. A predecessor. Danes. 
former 2 (for'mer), n. [< ME. former, formovr, 
foiinnour, formyour, < OF. formeor, "formour, 
formeur, < L. formator, a former, < formare, 
form: see form, i: Cf. formator.] 1. One who 
forms, fashions, creates, or makes ; a creator. 
We beleven God, formyour of hevene and of erthe. 
Mandeville, Travels, p. 2. 
Fader and fourtiwur of al that euere was maked. 
Piers Plan-man (B), ix. 27. 
2. Specifically, a pattern in or upon which 
anything is shaped, as a piece of wood used for 
shaping cartridges and gun-wads; any mecha- 
nism contributing to give shape to an article in 
process of manufacture. 
To roll up the cases [of rockets] you must have a smooth 
round ruler, or, as it is called, & former, exactly the size of 
the cavity of the rocket, and 10 or 12 times as long. 
Workshop Receipts, 1st ser., p. 124. 
The cutting pressure of the tool tends to hold the former 
and the plate together. Sci. Amer., N. S., LIV. 259. 
formeret (for'me-ret), . [< OF.formeret,fro- 
meret, < forme, form: see form, n.] In arch., 
the arched rib which in ribbed vaulting lies 
next the wall and in a plane parallel to it. It 
fixes the form of the vault longitudinally, anil is less than 
the other main ribs which divide and support the vault- 
ing. See arc doubleati, arc ogive, under drcl. 
formerly (for'mer-li), adv. If. First; first of 
all; beforehand. 
But Calidore, that was more quicke of sight, . . . 
Prevented him before his stroke could light, 
And on the helmet smote him formerlie. 
Spenser, F. Q., VI. i. 38. 
If I had notformerlt/ read the Barons Wars in England, 
I had more admired that of the Leagures in France. 
Howell, Letters, iv. 11. 
Formicariida 
2. In time past; at a certain point or through 
an indefinite period in the past; of old; here- 
tofore. 
Marry, tis a withered pear; it was /or;/" i In 
,>/,<-., Alfs Well, i. 1. 
At this time the King forgot not a delivi-nim -e be had 
Inrnirfhi hail. /.'-I/,. v, Chronicles, p. 4(>f>. 
St. In time just past ; just now ; as aforesaid. 
Thou hast incurr'd 
The danger formerly by me rehears'd. 
.sVm*.,M. of V., iv. 1. 
= Syn. 2. Once. anciently. I'lirmfi'lil. I'rrrinusli/. l'< 
Iii iiii-ans bi-fore the present time, and perhaps a ronsidrra- 
blc time before; preciously, before some particular event 
or time, and generally up to th.it point: as, the rates of 
postage were formerly much higher than now; they were 
reduced in 1845, having previously been at an average of 
al>ont }'2\ cents. 
formestt, " fi'l/erl. A Middle English form of 
foreman, 
fbrmful (form'ful), a. [tform + -ful] Ready 
to form ; creative ; imaginative. [Rare.] 
As fleet* the vision o'er theforntful brain, 
This moment hurrying wild the impassion 'd soul, 
The next in nothing lost. Thomson, .summer, 1. 1632. 
form-genus (fonn'je"nus), n. In biol., a genus 
composed of similar form-species. 
When vigorously growing and dividing, the Schizomy- 
cetes as a rule present certain definite forms, which arc 
at any rate so constant under constant conditions that 
they can be figured and described with such accuracy and 
certainty that good observers have regarded them as fixed 
species, or at least as form-species or form-oenera. 
Encyc. Arit., XXI. 401. 
formiate (for'mi-at), n. Same as formate. 
formic (for'mik), a. [= F. formique; short for 
formifie, q. v.] Pertaining to, produced by, 
derived from, or characteristic of ants. Also 
formicic. 
When we are told to go to the ant and the bee, and con- 
sider their ways, it ts not that we should borrow from them 
formic laws or apiarian policy. 
Southey, The Doctor, xcvi. 
Formic acid, HCO.OH, an acid obtained from a fluid 
emitted by ants when irritated. This fluid contains both 
malic and formic acids, and by infusing ants in boiling 
water an acid as strong as vinegar is obtained, which has 
been used in place of vinegar. Formic acid exists also in 
certain other insects, in the common stinging nettle, and 
in various animal liquids. It is prepared commercially 
by heating oxalic acid and glycerin, the oxalic acid sepa- 
rating into carbon dioxid and formic acid. It is a colorless 
fluid of strongly acid smell, and produces a blister and 
great pain when dropped an the skin. Formic ethers, 
ethers obtained by the substitution of alcoholic radicals 
for the replaceable hydrogen of formic acid : thus, ethyl 
formic ether, (C 2 H 5 )CHO 2 . 
Formica (for-mi'ka), n. [L. (> Ii. formica = 
Sp. hormiga = Pg.formiga = Pr. formiga = F. 
fourmi), an ant, emmet.] 1. The typical ge- 
nus of ants of the family Formicida?, formerly, 
as used by Linnams, coextensive with the whole 
group of formicarians, but now greatly restrict- 
ed. It still contains many species, having the abdominal 
peduncle one-jointed, the mandibles triangular and den- 
ticulate, and the females stingless. /'. rvfa is a common 
red ant, found both in Europe and in North America. 
2. [I. c.] [ML., a kind of abscess (apostema), 
lit. an ant; also called jmrrtim, lit. leek; cf. F. 
oignon, a bunion, lit. an onion.] An abscess; 
in falconry, a distemper in a hawk's bill which 
eats it away. 
formican (for'mi-kan), a. [< L. formica, an 
ant, + -an.] Of or pertaining to the ant; re- 
sembling an ant. 
The driver-ants . . . are vagabonds and wanderers upon 
the face of the earth, formican tramps. 
Eclectic Mag., XLI. 420. 
formicant (for'mi-kant), a. [< l,.formican(t-)g, 
ppr. of foraiicare, crawl like ants, feel (as the 
skin) as if crawled over by ants, < formica, an 
ant.] Crawling like an ant : applied in medicine 
to the pulse when it is extremely small, scarcely 
perceptible, unequal, and communicates a sen- 
sation like that of the motion of an ant per- 
ceived through a thin texture. Diinylix/i. 
formicaria, " Plural of formicarium. 
Formicariae (for-mi-ka'ri-e), n. pi. [NL., fern. . 
pi. of ML. "formicarius, adj.: seeformicarian.] 
A superfamily name of the ants, conterminous 
with the family Formicidte in a large sense: 
synonymous with Hcterogyna. 
formicarian (for-mi-ka'ri-an), a. and n. [< ML. 
*formicariii8 (> OF.formicaire), pertaining to 
ants, < L. formica, an ant: see Formica.] I. a. 
1. In entom., of or pertaining to ants; formicine. 
2. In ornith., of or pertaining to ant-birds; 
formicarioid. 
II. . 1. In entom., one of the Formicaria;; 
an ant. 2. In ornith.. an ant-bird; a formi- 
carioid passerine bird. 
Formicariidae (f6r"mi-ka-ri'i-de), . pi. [NL., 
< Formicaritis + -ida:.] ' A family of formica- 
