a. (Her.) Same as Paté or Patté. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ OE., fr. AS. forma. See Foremost. ] First. [ Obs. ] “Adam our forme father.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
a.
Formed material (Biol.),
n. [ OF., fr. Latin. So called because the plaintiff claimed “by the form of the gift, ” L. per formam doni. ] (O. Eng. Law) A writ of right for a tenant in tail in case of a discontinuance of the estate tail. This writ has been abolished. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Dim. of F. forme the female of a bird of prey. ] (Zool.) The female of a hawk or falcon. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ A compar. due to OE. formest. See Foremost. ]
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age. Job. viii. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]
The latter and former rain. Hosea vi. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]
A bad author deserves better usage than a bad critic; a man may be the former merely through the misfortune of an ill judgment; but he can not be latter without both that and an ill temper. Pope.
n.
‖n. [ F. ] (Arch.) One of the half ribs against the walls in a ceiling vaulted with ribs. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In time past, either in time immediately preceding or at any indefinite distance; of old; heretofore. [ 1913 Webster ]