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formality

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formality


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Formality  \For*mal"i*ty\,  n.;  pl  {Formalities}.  [Cf.  F. 
  formalit['e].] 
  1.  The  condition  or  quality  of  being  formal,  strictly 
  ceremonious,  precise,  etc 
 
  2.  Form  without  substance. 
 
  Such  [books]  as  are  mere  pieces  of  formality,  so 
  that  if  you  look  on  them  you  look  though  them 
  --Fuller. 
 
  3.  Compliance  with  formal  or  conventional  rules  ceremony; 
  conventionality. 
 
  Nor  was  his  attendance  on  divine  offices  a  matter  of 
  formality  and  custom,  but  of  conscience. 
  --Atterbury. 
 
  4.  An  established  order  conventional  rule  of  procedure; 
  usual  method;  habitual  mode. 
 
  He  was  installed  with  all  the  usual  formalities. 
  --C. 
  Middleton. 
 
  5.  pl  The  dress  prescribed  for  any  body  of  men,  academical, 
  municipal,  or  sacerdotal.  [Obs.] 
 
  The  doctors  attending  her  in  their  formalities  as 
  far  as  Shotover  --Fuller. 
 
  6.  That  which  is  formal;  the  formal  part 
 
  It  unties  the  inward  knot  of  marriage,  .  .  .  while 
  it  aims  to  keep  fast  the  outward  formality. 
  --Milton. 
 
  7.  The  quality  which  makes  a  thing  what  it  is  essence. 
 
  The  material  part  of  the  evil  came  from  our  father 
  upon  us  but  the  formality  of  it  the  sting  and  the 
  curse,  is  only  by  ourselves  --Jer.  Taylor. 
 
  The  formality  of  the  vow  lies  in  the  promise  made  to 
  God.  --Bp. 
  Stillingfleet 
 
  8.  (Scholastic.  Philos.)  The  manner  in  which  a  thing  is 
  conceived  or  constituted  by  an  act  of  human  thinking;  the 
  result  of  such  an  act  as  animality  and  rationality  are 
  formalities. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  formality 
  n  1:  a  requirement  of  etiquette  or  custom  [syn:  {formalities}] 
  2:  a  manner  that  strictly  observes  all  forms  and  ceremonies 
  [syn:  {formalness}]  [ant:  {informality}] 
  3:  compliance  with  formal  rules 




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