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Natural, are thofe inherent in Bodies, without anything contributed thereto on the part of Man. Such is the Form of Marble.
Artificial, are thofe ^rifing from human Induftry: Such is that of a Statue. But this Distinction is ufelefs : and does not imply any intrinfic Difference in the Forms themfelves.— Form of Corporeity, according to Amcenna, and the Sco- tt (is, is that which conftitutes Body in the generical Effb of Body.
That there is fuch a thing, they prove thus : The human Body is a natural Body, which cannot be piac'd in the Efje of Body, but by the Form of Corporeity : For it is cither fo plac'd by this, or by the rational Soul ; not by the Soul, fince that is fpiritual ; therefore by the Form of Corporeity t And the lame may be understood of other Bodies ; But the later Philofophers fet this afide as a Chinuen.
Form, in Theology, is one of the effential Parts of the Sacraments; "being that which gives them their Sacramen- tal E/fe. See Sacrament.
The Form confifts in certain Words, which the Prielt pronounces in adminiitring them.
In fome of the Komifi Sacraments the Form is depre- cative 5 in ours it is abfolute, or indicative.
The Fathers and antient Divines held, that the Sacra- ments confiited of Things, and Words, Rebus g? Verbis. William of Auxerre was the firft, who, about the Beginning of the XIII th Century introduced the Terms, Matter, and Form in lieu thereof.
Form is alfo the external Appearance, or Surface of a ■Body ; or the Dilpofition ofits Parts, as to Length, Breadth and Thicknefs: In which fenfe it coincides with Figure. See Figure.
Form is alfo us'd in the Mechanic Arts, for a kind of Mould, whereon a Thing is fafhion'd, or wrought. As the Hatters Form, the Papermakers Form, &c. Hatters Form, is a large Block, ior piece of Wood, of a cylindrical Figure 5 the Top thereof rounded, and the Bot ■ torn quite flat.
Its Ulo is, to mould or fa/hion the Crown of the Hat,
after the Matter thereof has been beaten, and full'd. ■
To form a Hat, 'tis neceffary the Wool, Hair, %$c. be very hot, jult reeking out of the Copper. See Hat.
'Papermakers Form is one of the Moulds wherein the Sheets are fram'd. See Paper.
(Printers Form, is a Frame, or Board, compos'd of di- vers Letters, rang'd in Order, and difpos'd into Pages, 'by the Compofitor; from which, by means of Ink, and a Pre fs,
the Printed Sheets are drawn.
Every Form is inclos'd in an iron Chafe, wherein it is firmly loek'd by a Number of pieces of Wood ; fome long, and narrow; and others inform of Wedges. See Chase. There ate two Forms requir'd for every Sheet ; one for each fide ; and each Form confifts of more or fewer Pages, according to the Volume of the Book. See Printing.
Form is alfo us'd in a Moral fenfe, for a manner of being , or doing a thing according to Rules.
This Republic has frequently chang'd its Form of Go- vernment ; that is, its antient Order, or Constitution, Par- dons generally exprefs a Remiflion, or Abolition of a Crime ; in what Form, or Manner ioever it were committed. He was admitted Doctor in Form : Put your Argument in Form. Form, in Law, is apply'd to certain eftablifh'd Rules, to he obferv'd in Proceffes, or Judiciary Proceedings; in which fenfe the Word ftands oppos'd to the Ground or Matter in difpute-
'Tis a Maxim in Law, that the Form leads, or fways the Matter : The very contrary Maxim mould be true.
Form, in Joinery, %$c. is apply'd to the long Seats, or Benches in the Choirs of Churches, for the Priefts, Canons, Prebends, Religious, &c. to fit on.
Such a Joiner made the Forms of fuch a Church. 2)tt Cavge takes the Name io be deriv'd hence, that the Backs of thefe Seats were antiefftly enrich'd with Figures of Paint- ing and Sculpture ; call'd in Latin Forma: ££ 'lypi- — ■
In the Life of Sir William of Rofchild we meet with For- ma, as fignifying a Scat for an Ecclefiallic, or Religious in a Choir ; and in that of St. Lupicin, we have Formula in the fame fenfe. In the Rule of the Monastery of St. Ceefa- rea t the Nun, who prcfides over the Choir, is call'd Prin/i- ceria, vel Formaria.
FORMA 'Pauperis, or In Forma Pauperis, is when any Perfon has Caufe of Suit, and is fo poor that he cannot dil- pend the ufual Charges of fuing at Law, or in Equity.
In this cafe, upon his making Oath that he is not worth 5 /• his Debts being paid ; and bringing a Certificate from fotnc Lawyer, that he has juft caufe of Suit ; the Judge ad- mits him to fue in Forma 'Pauperis, that is, without pay- ing Fees to Councellor, Attorney, or Clerk. This Cuftom has its Beginning from Stat. 11 H. 7. c. 12.
FORMAL, anything that regards the Form ; that gives the Manner, or Form.
Thus, we fay, The formal Caufe joining it felf to the ma- terial, produces the Body, or Compound.
The Schoolmen alio apply it to any thing which has i. kind of Form, either EsTcntiai, or Accidental; at leaft, in our Conception.
Thus, we frequently hear the Philofophers talk of the formal Object of Knowlege ; the formal Reafori of any thing 5 formal Unity, &c. The formal Caufe.
Formal Caufe, is defin'd by certain Philofophers to be fomething implanted in Matter, whereby it is diftinguim'ct from other Matter.
For Matter is fuppos'd common to all Bodies ; confequcnt- ly, that they are diitinguifhable from one another does no£ arife from their Matter, but the Form which is peculiar to each : So that what is produe'd by fuch Caufe, is faid to bs formed. Sec Matter.
Hence it follows, that the Caufality of Matter, and Form, is not the fame; or that the Component Pow'r, and the Actual Composition are different. Contrary to the Opinion of the Generality of Schoolmen, who maintaining Form to be a Subftance coextended with Matter, make it a real component Part; as much as Matter it felf. See Cause, Form, Substance, and Substantial.
Formal is alfo us'd in a Moral fenfe, importing pofitive exprefs, and precife.
Thus we fay, A formal Agreement ; a formal Text; for- mal Anfwer, £•?<;.
FORMAL1TER, or Formally, is varioufly us'd in the Schools.
Sometimes it is understood of the Subject, when a Pre- dicate is therein on account of fome Form : Thus, White formally taken, diffufes the Light; q. (/.the Form inheient in this Subject, viz. Whitenefs, is the Caufe why the Sub- ject difperfes the Light.
Formally has alfo place in Suppofitions ; A Word being formally fuppos'd, when it is taken for the Thing it was in- tended to signify ; as Man is a?z Animal.
Formally is alfo us'd in the fame fenfe with adequately, and totally ; Thus, a Syllogifm formally, i. e. adequately taken, requires three Proportions.
Sometimes it is alfo us'd for £>itidditatively : Thus, Man formally taken is a reafonable Animal.
Formally is alfo us'd for Really, in oppofition to obje- ctively: And a thing is faid to be formally fuch, when it is fuch in the proper Notion of the thing {poke of—
Formally, again, is us'd in fpeakfng of the Manner where- in a Thing is contain'd in another ; in oppofition to Vir- tually^ and Eminently. See Virtually, and Eminently.
FORMALITY, the Quality of a Form, or Formula ; or that which constitutes, and denominates them fuch. See Form, and Quality.
Formality, as defin'd in the Schools, is any Manner, or Notion, wherein a thing is concdv'd : Or, a Manner in any Object, importing a Relation to the Understanding, where- by it may be o'iftinguifh'd from another Object;
Thus, Animality, and Rationality are Formalities. . The Scotifis make great ufe of Formalities ; in oppofi- tion to the Virtualities of the ifhomifls. SeeScoTisT.
The Scotifis hold, that the Metaphysical Degrees in Man are fo many Formalities, really distinct from each other; as Man, Livii?g, Animal, &c. And the fame they hold of the Attributes of God : The "Tbomijls, on the contrary, con- tend, that they are really and intrinfically the fame. See Degree.
In Matters of Law, Formalities are frequently us'd for the Formula's themfelves; or the Rules prefcrib'd for judiciary Proceedings. In Contracts of strict Law, all the Formali- ties mult be strictly obferv'd. An OmifTion of the least Formality may ruin the whole Convention-
The Term is alio us'd for a certain Order, certain De- cencies, and Ceremonies obferv'd.
This Compofition of Formalities^ Decencies, and Ciratrri- fpections, may form a political Pedant; but not an Ambaf- fador, who mufl be a Gallant Man. Wicqucfort.
FORMATION, in Philofophy, £j?c. the Aa of forming, faOiiomng, or producing a thing.
The Formation of the Chick in the Egg, is admirably explain'd by Malpighi, in an exprefs Treatife, 2)e Forma- tionc Pulli in Ovo. See Egg.
The Formation of the Fcetus, the Embryo in the Womb, is a Procefs of which we have but very dark Conceptions. See Conception, Foetus, &c.
The Formation of Metals is effected in the: Veins of the Earth, of Fumes or Vapours rais'd by the fubterraneous Fire, and fix'd, or condens'd as they arrive toward the Sur- face of the Earth. See Metals, Minerals, &c.
The Formation of an Abfcefs in the Body, fee Ab- scess.
FORMA TR1X, or Formatp-ice. The antient Philo- fophers admitted a Virtus, or Facultas Formatrix, where- by all Bodies had their Forms given them. See Facul- ty.
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