adv. [f. FORMAL a. + -LY2. (Cf. FORMLY.)]
1. In formal respects; as regards form. a. Metaph. (see FORM sb. 4 a, FORMAL A. 1 a): With regard to, or by virtue of, the form or distinctive essence. Also in Logic: With regard to the form, as opposed to the matter of reasoning.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 13. But formally, Number, is the Vnion, and Vnitie of Vnits.
1581. E. Campion, in Confer., IV. (1584), B bj. It was not truely and formally fraude, but materially in the formall act fraude: as for example, when the people of the Iewes were commanded to steale from the Egyptians, it was in the act theft, but not formally theft. So Abrahams intent to kill his childe, was to do murther in the act, but formally it was no murther.
1678. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, III. 32. Neither that it be understood, that God doth properly move to sin simply and formally taken, or sin as sin.
1685. Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., 1 Cor. xi. 23–4. It was his Body which he gave them, Sacramentally and Relatively: As the same thing which is materially Gold and Silver, may formally be the King’s Coyn, and Current Money, or a badge of Honour, or the King’s Image, &c.
1697. trans. Burgersdicius’ Logic, I. xxvi. 106. Ax. 13. Words are either taken Materially or Formally. Ax. 14. They are said to be taken Materially when for themselves. Ax. 15. Formally, when for the things by them signified.
1713. Smalridge, Serm. (1724), 331. The publican and the disciple, the heathen and the Christian, may agree in the material acts of charity; but that which formally makes this a Christian grace, is the spring from which it flows, and the recompence at which it aims.
1864. Bowen, Logic, ii. 24. Hence, what is formally correct may be materially false; I may reason rightly from wrong premises to a false conclusion.
1877. E. Caird, Philos. Kant, II. vi. 295. A judgment is formally right when its predicate is contained in the conception of the subject; formally wrong when it is not.
b. With regard to form or outline.
1868. Swinburne, Ess. & Stud. (1875), 360. His [Albert Moore’s] painting is to artists what the verse of Théophile Gautier is to poets; the faultless and secure expression of an exclusive worship of things formally beautiful.
† c. In outward appearance, seemingly. Obs.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., XII. lxxiv. (1612), 305.
| The gentlewoman (formally then modest) blushing, sayd, | |
| For Inne, add Boord, as pleaseth you: And so her Answer staide. |
1608. Middleton, Mad World, IV. iv.
| The very devil assum’d thee formally; | |
| That face, that voice, that gesture, that attire. |
1649. W. Ball, Power of Kings, 7. Even so there is justum reale, and justum apparens, or formale, an Act, or Being Really just, and seemingly or formally just, as it is apprehened by Understanding, and embraced by the Will, which may be in itself unjust.
† 2. In good form: a. In good order, style, or method. b. Handsomely. Obs.
c. 1400. Beryn, 3457.
| And seyd, ‘he reportid the tale riȝt formally; | |
| He was no fool in certen, but wise, ware, & scly. |
1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV. (an. 14), 32 b. This kyng was of a mean stature wel proporcioned and formally compact, quicke and deliuer & of a stout courage.
† 3. According to the principles of art or science.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., V. xi.
| So all the eyght partes in generall | |
| Are Laten wordes, annexed properly | |
| To every speche, for to speke formally. |
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., To the Reader. Anie of but meane capacitie, so they can but truly sing their tunings, which we commonly call the sixe notes, or vt, re, mi, fa, sol, la, may without any other helpe sauing this booke, perfectly learne to sing, make discant, and set parts well and formally togither.
b. According to logical form; hence, † logically, convincingly.
c. 1526. Frith, Disput. Purgat. (1829), 112. Therefore this argument holdeth not formally.
1548. Gest, Pr. Masse, 89. If thys be formallye argued of Paul (as out of question it is) then it argueth that Christ is not to be agayn offered lesse hys fyrst offering either entier and sufficiente to purge syn.
† 4. Regularly: a. In the ordinary or proper way. b. ‘As a rule’; under normal circumstances. c. With exact correspondence. Obs.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 237. When they [horses] came to hand to lay vpon their backes a litle boy flat on his belly; and afterward to make him sit vpon him formally, holding him by the head.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ii. 9. There are usually three Ladders in a Ship: the entering Ladder is in the Waist, made formally of wood, and another out of the Gallery made of Ropes to go into the Boat by in foul weather, and the third at the Beak-head, made fast over the Boultspret to get upon it, only used in great Ships.
1674. Playford, Skill Mus., III. 13. What Cords have held good in this ascending and descending of the Bass, answer in the contrary by the very same rule, though not so formally as the other.
5. Explicitly, expressly.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 19 b. Though the gyftes of the holy goost speketh not formally all these wordes before sayd.
a. 1600. Hooker (J.). You and your followers do stand formally divided against the authorised guides of the church, and the rest of the people.
1682. Norris, Hierocles, Pref. 28. That every action whereby any other natural precept is fulfill’d, does of its own nature tend to the glory of God, in as much as the Divine Will is fulfill’d by it, though this be not formally intended by the Agent.
1765. Blackstone, Comm. (1793), 48. This is what we mean by the original contract of society; which, though perhaps in no instance it has ever been formally expressed at the first institution of a state, yet in nature and reason must always be understood and implied, in the very act of associating together.
1841. F. Myers, Cath. Th., III. § 2. 3–4. The Bible is not merely, or chiefly, a book of Maxims and of Precepts every where formally didactic, but it is a History also of Divine Acts, and of the unfolding of Divine Ideas, continually manifesting the superintendence of a Divine Sovereignty: not a history of the World, or of all god’s Providence in it, but only of one kingdom and society, which was elected out of the rest to exhibit principles applicable to all kingdoms and societies, and to preserve certain privileges with which it was provisionally endowed in order that they might ultimately be extended to the whole race of man.
1853. C. Brontë, Villette, xxxvii. I cannot say that Paulina designedly led him to talk of books, or formally proposed to herself for a moment the task of winning him to reflection, or planned the improvement of his mind, or so much as fancied his mind could in any one respect be improved.
† b. In identical form. Obs.
1682. Case of the Protestants in England under a Popish Prince, 8. All the profits made of the estate, from the first day of their guilt, are to be refunded, if they be extant and found among their goods, formally, or but so much as equivalently.
6. In prescribed or customary form; with the formalities required to give validity or definiteness to the action; in set form, statedly.
1564. Child Marriages (E.E.T.S.), 134–5. This deponent made a certen note of her Will … and after she was dede, this examinant made it formallie.
1597. Warner, Alb. Eng., VIII. xii. 200.
| At length at full and formally he courted her for grace, | |
| But all in vaine, nought booted him to haue both time and place. |
1634–5. Brereton, Trav. (Chetham Soc.), 9. Except the wife and husband condition and conclude formally in writing drawn by counsel in perfect health, that the longest liver take all.
1688. Lond. Gaz., No. 2319/3. The place was not to be formally besieged, but by a numerous Army.
1741–2. H. Walpole, Lett. H. Mann (1834), I. xxi. 86. Waller was to have been the other, but has formally refused.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, V. xxxviii. 63. He was now formally accused by Iphicrates and Callistratus, and was recalled to answer their charges.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. v. 40. We subsequently crossed the glacier to the Montanvert, and I formally took up my position there.
7. With formality of manner, ceremoniously.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, III. 238.
| He stood a little still, and fix’d upon the earth his eyes, | |
| His sceptre moving neither way, but held it formally, | |
| Like one that vainly doth affect. |
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., I. Pride (1703), 26. To be stiff and formally reserved, as if the Company did not deserve our Familiarity; to be haughty and contemptuous, and to make scanty and underproportioned returns of Civility: this is a downright Challenge of Homage, and plainly tells people, they must be very mannerly.
1800. Mrs. Hervey, The Mourtray Family, IV. 66. Lady Elizabeth was so provoked by this speech, that she resolved in her own mind, to see as little as possible of her sister; and, courtesying formally, she abruptly left her.
8. As a matter of form.
1870. Rogers, Hist. Gleanings, Ser. II. 235. Convocation was suppressed, and never met, except formally, for near a century.
