[f. as prec. + -IST.]
† 1. A formal person, a solemn pretender to wisdom. Obs.
1607–12. Bacon, Ess., Of Seeming Wise (Arb.), 214. There are in pointe of wisedome, and sufficiency, that doe nothing, or litle verie solemlye. Magno conatu nugas. It is a ridiculous thing, and fitt for a Satyre to persons of Iudgement, to see what shiftes theis Formalists have, and what perspectiues to make superficies, to seeme body, that hath depth and bulk.
† 2. One who formally adheres to the prevailing system; a time-server in religion. Obs.
1609. Downam, Chr. Liberty, 75. Doe not many among vs, thinke themselues the more religious, for refusing obedience and conformity to the lawes, and censure others as formalists and time-seruers?
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., IV. iv. I. v. New gods, new lawgivers, new Priests will have new ceremonies, customes and religions, to which every wise man as a good Formalist should accommodate himselfe.
1632. D. Lupton, Lond. & Co. Carbonadoed, Exchange, 26. A great Formalist, and an hazardable Temporizer.
3. a. One who is excessively attached to forms; a stickler for fixed rule, etiquette, routine, or ceremonial. b. One who has the form of religion without the power.
1637. Gillespie, Eng.-Pop. Cerem., III. iv. 47. The Ceremonies are Idols to Formalists.
1642. Milton, An Apology against Smectymnuus (1851), 316. Though the formalist will say, what no decency in Gods worship?
1706–7. Reflex. upon Ridicule, 183. Those Formalists, who demand Explications of the least ambiguous Word, and always think that they are ridicul’d, are conscious of their own Weakness, and deserving to be despised. A wretched Temper of Mind!
1742. Young, Nt. Th., IV. 638.
| Oh ye cold-hearted, frozen, formalists! | |
| On such a theme, ’tis impious to be calm; | |
| Passion is reason, transport temper, here! |
1814. Scott, Drama (1874), 221. The former [Frenchman] may be called the formalist of dramatic criticism, keeping his eye chiefly on its exterior shape and regular form.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 19. Nobody, however, except the solemn formalists at the Spanish embassy, thought his [Shrewsbury’s] youth an objection to his promotion.
1870. Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. xxviii. 1. Mere formalists may be content without answers to their prayers, but genuine suppliants cannot.
† 4. Sc. ? An authority on legal forms. Obs.
1612. Spottiswood, Lett., in Scot, Apol. Narr. (1846), 236. I thank God, that it pleased your Majestie to make choice of my Lord Secretary to be our formalist and adviser of our acts.
