[ad. L. configūrātion-em, n. of action from configūrāre: see CONFIGURE. Cf. F. configuration (14th c. in Littré).]
1. Arrangement of parts or elements in a particular form or figure; the form, shape, figure, resulting from such arrangement; conformation; outline, contour (of geographical features, etc.).
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 169. Many [fishes] that beare the name of animals at Land … hold no resemblance in corporall configuration.
1720. Waterland, Eight Serm. The Configuration of the Muscles, and Disposition of the Nerves.
1855. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, xvii. (1860), § 726. Study the configuration of the Southern American Continent.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., xvi. 263. The remarkable configuration of the Atlantic sea-bed.
† b. ? Arrangement of elements; physical composition or constitution. Obs. rare.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 264. Salts … supplying the Plants with what is requisite … especially such, as these Salts have any Analogy with, by their Configuration.
2. Astron. Relative position, apparent or actual, of planets or other celestial bodies; esp. in earlier use, the relative positions or ‘aspects’ of the sun, moon, and planets, recognized in Judicial Astrology. (The latter is the earliest English use.)
1559. W. Cunningham, Cosmogr. Glass, 26. I perceiue also other configurations … as well out of the zodiacke, as also in it.
1588. Greene, Perimedes, 45. Fortune that was so fickle, and the starres that had so badlye dealt in the configuration of their natiuitie.
1671. Salmon, Syn. Med., I. xxviii. 56. The Disease is found out … from the Configurations of the Planets.
1833. Herschel, Astron., xi. 341. The planets going through the succession of configurations with each other.
1834. Mrs. Somerville, Connect. Phys. Sc., iii. (1849), 30. This inequality … depends upon the configuration of the two planets.
† 3. State of being conformed in figure or fashion (see CONFIGURATE v. 2). Obs. rare.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Worthy Commun., i. § 3. 56. Our configuration with the death of Christ in baptisme.
† 4. A representation by a figure, an image. Obs.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., 47. Sounds … are remembred, and yet no real configurations are possible to be made thereof in the Brain; for what Image can there be of a Sound?
