Formality

[ad. L. formālitās, f. formālis FORMAL a. Cf. F. formalité (1497 in Hatz.-Darm.).]

  † 1.  Formal or essential nature; the characteristic or distinctive property by which a thing is defined. Also, the condition of possessing formal existence.

1570.  Dee, Math. Pref., 3. Creatures … brought, from Nothing, to the Formalitie of their being and state.

1596.  Bell, Surv. Popery, III. ix. 378. The formalitie of original sin is of two sorts, or double; to wit, the guilte and the deordination.

1649.  Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., III. xvii. 66. This calamity in its own formality, and by the intention of GOD is a punishment and judgement.

1672.  Grew, The Anatomy of Plants, An Idea of a Philosophical History of Plant, § 7. Those Formalities, wherein their [plants’] Essence doth consist.

1686.  J. Goad, Astro-meteorologica, III. iii. 449. Motion is the Formality of Wind.

1737.  Waterland, Eucharist, 19. Mr. Scandret, distinguishing a Sacrament, according to its precise Formality, from a Sacrifice, observes, that it is ‘an outward visible sign of an invisible grace or favour from God to man.’

  † b.  Formal aspect or category. Obs.

1610.  Healey, St. Augustine, Of the Citie of God, I. xiv. 25. The cittie being nothing but a multitude of men vnited in one formality of religion and estate.

1660.  Jer. Taylor, Ductor Dubitantium, I. iii. If it be propounded as evil, the will that chooses it under that formality is criminal.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. xxviii. 70. The womb is sensible of Odours, not under the formality of Odours, but is only affected by the delicate and subtile vaporous matter conjoyned.

  † 2.  That which pertains to outward form; also, an outward appearance or semblance (of something). Obs.

1615.  J. Stephens, Ess. & Char., Impudent Censurer (1857), 133–4. That proves him ranke-bestiall, descended from the walking Apes; which on the Mountaines seeme carefull Inhabitants, but at your approach, the formality of man only.

1640.  Bp. Hall, Episc., II. xxii. 205. There may be some appendances and formalities of government alterable by the wisdome of the Church; yet for the main substance, it is now utterly indispensable, and must so continue to the worlds end.

1645.  Milton, Tetrach. (1851), 191. All sacred things not perform’d sincerely as they ought, are no way acceptable to God in their outward formality. Ibid. (1649), Eikon., xxvii. ‘Court-delights are prone either to root up all true virtue and honour, or to be contented only with some leaves and withering formalities of them, without any real fruits tending to the public good.’

  † 3.  Method, regularity. Also, uniform procedure. Obs.

1603.  Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 423. It must needs be (quoth he) that whosoever would rule and commaund many, should likewise fight with many, unto them who greatly commended the Eliens for observing such good order and formality at the Olympick games.

1628.  Le Grys, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, 101. Meleander himselfe had been attempted with that poyson, but hitherto escaped by the carefulnesse of his seruants, who did looke to his meate and his clothes with a curious formality.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. § 182. Resolv’d not to trust themselves with such Judges (whose formality was first to Imprison, and after, at their leisure, to Examine).

a. 1650.  May, Satir. Puppy (1657), 15. A strange dejected humour possest him three Months, his actions were quite void of formality, his domestick affaires by himselfe neglected, & managed by men more officious then honest.

1655.  Fuller, The Church-History of Britain, IV. ii. § 5. The Arch-bishop … was very punctual and ceremonious in his proceedings, that he might set the fairer copie, for the direction of posterity; and that the formality of his exemplary justice, might, for the terrour of others, take the deeper impression in all, that did see it, or should hear thereof.

  4.  Accordance with legal form.

1660.  Trial Regic., 51. When a man would Plead any thing, because he would Plead it in Formality, Councel is allowed.

1693.  Creech, Juvenal, xiii. 179.

  † 5.  Literary or artistic form; agreement with the laws of form. Obs.

1531.  Elyot, The Boke Named the Gouernour, I. xiv. (1883), I. 149. Than appoynte they howe many plees maye be made for euery parte, and in what formalitie they shulde be sette, whicbe is the seconde parte of Rhetorike, called disposition.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 76. In descanting you must not onelie seeke true cordes, but formalitie also: that is, to make your descant carrie some forme of relation to the plaine song.

1674.  Playford, Skill Mus., III. 14. If in the first Rule the Notes follow not in expected formality.

1677.  Phil. Trans., XII. 838. Formality [in music] requires, that the succeeding Notes be agreable to the former.

  6.  Conformity to established rule; customary propriety. Often in depreciative sense, rigid or merely conventional observance of forms.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xxix. § 1. The attyre … being a matter of meere formalitie.

a. 1625.  Chas. I., Lett., in Athenæum, 24 Feb. (1872), 241/3. Which I wryt not for formalities sake, but doe indede fynd myselfe ingaged both in honnor and affection.

1706.  Atterbury, Serm. Funeral Mr. Bennet, 13. Nor was his Attendance on Divine Offices a matter of Formality and Custom, but of Conscience; as appear’d by his compos’d and serious Behaviour, during the Service.

1874.  Morley, Compromise (1886), 179. If the religious spirit is only a fine name for narrowness of understanding, for stubborn in tolerance, for mere social formality, for a dread of losing that poor respectability which means thinking and doing exactly as the people around us think and do, then the religious spirit is not a good thing, but a thoroughly bad and hateful thing.

1881.  Tylor, in Nature, XXIV. 6 Oct., 529/1. To give an idea of the state of formality into which life has come among these supposed free-and-easy savages, mention may be made of the duties of the bridesmaid and groomsman.

  7.  Ceremony, elaborate procedure.

1666.  Pepys, Diary, 11 April. To Gresham College; where a great deal of do and formality in choosing of the Council and officers.

1705.  Stanhope, Paraphr., II. 329. Our Enemy makes his Approaches toward us with less Formality, and therefore with more success, than He did, or could do, against the Holy Jesus.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 96. The governor received him like himself, with prodigious state and formality.

1865.  Maffei, Brigand Life, I. 240. When it was announced to him that, seized, as he had been, in the very act of insurrection, he was to be shot instantly, he could hardly believe it; but without a moment’s delay, and with scarcely any formality, the sentence was carried into effect.

  8.  A ceremony; a formal act or observance; a legal, authorized, or customary procedure.

1674.  Martinière, trans. Voy. N. Countries, 52, heading. The pleasant Funeral formalities among the Muscovian Laplanders.

1741.  C. Middleton, Cicero, I. vi. 530. After the election, he was installed with all the usual formalities by Hortensius.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, XVI. iv. I insist on the formality of its being delivered me, with a full ratification of all the concessions stipulated.

1862.  Trollope, Orley F., i. When, however, Sir Joseph died, a codicil to his will, executed with due legal formalities, bequeathed Orley Farm to his youngest son.

  8.  Something required to be done for form’s sake; a requirement of etiquette, custom, etc. (Often depreciatively, implying mere attention to externals.)

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 20. It would put an end presently to all those Formalities, which (though all Substantial matters were agreed upon already) according to the Style of that Court, and the slow progress in all things of Ceremony, might yet retard the Infanta’s Voyage into England many Months.

1664.  H. More, Myst. Iniq., 453. How much Antichrist with his Adherents do Judaize in Ceremonies and in boasting of Works and dead Formalities, is conspicuous to all the world.

1685.  Gracian’s Courtiers Orac., 169. He shall never gain the esteem of an able man, who sticks too much upon Formalities.

1840.  Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 282. It could not become clear to him how, by fasts, vigils, formalities and mass-work, a man’s soul could be saved.

1856.  Kane, Arct. Expl., I. viii. 90. Many a warm shake of the hand from the crew we left showed me that our good-bye was not a mere formality.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., iv. § 2. 174. Their presence, indeed, though still occasionally granted on some solemn occasions, became so pure a formality that by the end of the fifteenth century it had sunk wholly into desuetude.

  † b.  Ceremonious attention (paid to a person).

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 96. The Emperour … became his host, entertaining him with all the formalities that feigned friendship could deuise.

1692.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 564. The mayor and aldermen attended on the prince and princesse daily; but had received notice from lord Nottingham to desist paying those formalities.

1726.  Shelvocke, Voy. round World (1757), 407. There was a constant equipage waiting for our people on the beach, and particularly for those who, by a better dress, they guessed to be above the common sort. These they always received with such formality as could not be expected in such a place.

  10.  pl. or collect, sing. Robes or insignia of office or dignity. Obs. exc. Hist. † Also (rarely) in sing., an armorial bearing.

1575.  R. Laneham, Letter (1871), 41. Appeerez then a fresh, in hiz ful formalitee, with a louely loock.

1614.  Selden, Titles of Honor, 196. Neither haue they now the Crown as a part of their habit, but a formalitie only on their Armorie.

1614.  T. Lorkin, Lett., in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), III. 35. 20 Doctors in their formalityes and vpon their footscloths, and fourscore other of a second and inferiour rank.

1696.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3176/1. In the morning the Magistrates went to Church in a Body, and in their Formality.

1751.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 173, 12 Nov., ¶ 8. Scholars sometimes divest themselves with too much haste of their academical formality.

1753.  in Lond. Even. Post, 9 Aug. The corporation of Scarborough watted upon the Rt. Hon. Henry Pelham, Esq., in their formalities.

1894.  C. W. Boase, Reg. Coll. Exon. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), p. xlvii. In the east window was the picture of a man kneeling, with his gown and formalities on him.

  † b.  In wider sense: Ceremonial or significant garments of any kind. Obs.

1672.  Cave, Prim. Chr., III. v. (1673), 367. During this space of penance they appeared in all the Formalities of Sorrow and Mourning.

1717.  Mrs. Centlivre, Bold Str. for Wife, V. I hop’d to have been quiet when once I had put on your odious formality here [i.e., a Quaker dress].

  11.  The attribute of being formal; precision, rigid decorum of manners; excessive regularity or stiffness (of style, outline, etc.).

1599.  Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (1871), 33. A universal merchantly formality, in habit, speech, and gestures.

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VI. § 396. He was, in all his deportment, a very great Man, and that which look’d like Formality, was a punctuality in preserving his Dignity, from the invasion and intrusion of bold Men, which no Man of that Age so well preserv’d himself from.

1789.  Belsham, Ess., I. iii. 66. The total want of dignity and decorum in James, and the frozen formality, and more than Spanish stateliness, of Charles, occasioned extreme disgust, and exposed them to real inconvenience.

1830.  Hood, Haunted H., I. xxv.

1834.  Macaulay, Pitt, Ess. (1889), 301. His heart was a little cold, his temper cautious even to timidity, his manners decorous even to formality.

1849.  Florist, 285. On our left the lake, the formality of its smooth banks elegantly broken by those willows, whose boughs really lie upon the sureface of the water.