dial. [a. ON. formǽla to appoint. f. for-, FOR- pref.2, FORE- + mǽla to speak.
The pa. t. and pa. pple. formelt in Cursor Mundi may belong to -formeld, f. FOR- pref.3 + MELD.]
trans. † a. To mention beforehand; also intr. to speak beforehand of. b. dial. To bespeak.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10181.
| Þe toþer part, als was for-melt, | |
| It was bi-tuix þe prestes delt. | |
| Ibid., 10387 (Gött.). | |
| Þe hundrid schepe þat i for-melt | |
| To all þe comune war þai delt. |
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, 18. To Format [sic: read Formal] or Formel: to bespeak any thing.
1869. in Peacock, Lonsdale Gloss., 32.
1878. Cumberld. Gloss., s.v. ‘He formelt a par o’ shun wi’ steel cokers and girt heedit nails at t’ boddam.’
