4. (Geol.) (a) Mineral deposits and rock masses designated with
reference to their origin; as, the siliceous formation about geysers;
alluvial formations; marine formations. (b) A group of beds of the same
age or period; as, the Eocene formation.
5. (Mil.) The arrangement of a body of troops, as in a square, column,
etc. Farrow.
Form"a*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. formatif.] 1. Giving form; having the power
of giving form; plastic; as, the formative arts.
The meanest plant can not be raised without seed, by any formative
residing in the soil.
Bentley.
2. (Gram.) Serving to form; derivative; not radical; as, a termination
merely formative.
3. (Biol.) Capable of growth and development; germinal; as, living or
formative matter.
Form"a*tive, n. (Gram.) (a) That which serves merely to give form, and
is no part of the radical, as the prefix or the termination of a word.
(b) A word formed in accordance with some rule or usage, as from a
root.
For`mÈ" (?), a. (Her.) Same as PatÈ or PattÈ.
For"me (?), a. [OE., fr. AS. forma. See Foremost.] First. [Obs.] "Adam
our forme father." Chaucer.
Formed (?), a. 1. (Astron.) Arranged, as stars in a constellation; as,
formed stars. [R.]
2. (Biol.) Having structure; capable of growth and development;
organized; as, the formed or organized ferments. See Ferment, n.
Formed material (Biol.), a term employed by Beale to denote the
lifeless matter of a cell, that which is physiologically dead, in
distinction from the truly germinal or living matter.
For"me*don (?), n. [OF., fr. Latin. So called because the plaintiff
claimed "by the form of the gift,: L. per formam doni.] (O. Eng. Law) A
writ of right for a tenant in tail in case of a discontinuance of the
estate tail. This writ has been abolished.
For"mell (?), n. [Dim. of F. forme the female of a bird of prey.]
(Zoˆl.) The female of a hawk or falcon.
Form"er (?), n. 1. One who forms; a maker; a creator.
2. (Mech.) (a) A shape around which an article is to be shaped, molded,
woven wrapped, pasted, or otherwise constructed. (b) A templet,
pattern, or gauge by which an article is shaped. (c) A cutting die.
For"mer (?), a. [A compar. due to OE. formest. See Foremost.] 1.
Preceding in order of time; antecedent; previous; prior; earlier;
hence, ancient; long past.
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age.
Job. viii. 8.
The latter and former rain.
Hosea vi. 3.
3. Near the beginning; preceeding; as, the former part of a discourse
or argument.