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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Forme, Form, n. Also: forem, foarme. [ME. form, forme (a 1300), OF. forme, L. forma. Cf. Fourme n. and Furme n.]

1. Form or shape (of a person, animal, or thing). a1400 Leg. S. iii. 239.
Thai fendis … In forem [sic] of hundis can apere c1450-2 Howlat 56.
Quhy is … My forme and my fetherem vnfrely? 1475 Acts II. 112/1.
Nother siluer nor gold that beris prent & forme of cunȝe c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 189.
He hes ane forme without force 1513 Doug. ii. iii. 75.
This bustuus form, in lyknes of a hors 1535 Stewart 41287.
The kirk of Durhame … In forme … as it was wont to be c1552 Lynd. Mon. 768.
Ane woman … Fairar of forme wes never none 1596 Dalr. I. 14/9.
Horses … of a prettie forme Ib. 62/31.
Thir lytle foulis in sik formes

2. Form, fashion, style (of non-material things), esp. of a document, agreement, statute, etc.).In forme and effect, see Effect n.¹ 1 c. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 33/6.
The devin service … in this forme as we observe 1493 Maxwell Mem. 204.
We bynde … ws in the forme a-bwffe wrytyne 1514 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 151.
After the forme of the said act 1518 Glenartney MS. Docum.
By our lettres in autentik forme 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 753/2.
Lettres in the four formes, past upon ane decrete of the lordis of his counsaill 1568 Buch. Indict. 46.
Thai causet a diuorcie be mowyt in dowble forme

b. Const. of. 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 177.
To haue grantit … our landis of the Batchel, in form of cottary 1476 Acta Aud. 55/1.
The brefe … is nocht of forme of the chancelary 1479 Acta Conc. 39/2.
After the forme of the law 1524 Reg. Privy S. I. 495/2.
In forme of uthir sic lettrez before brevit c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2663.
Under the forme of fenȝeit sanctitude 1570 Sat. P. x.
Ane tragedie in forme of ane dialog 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 149 b.
The forme of the halding of the chalmerlan air

3. A long seat without a back. 1498 Acta Conc. 391/2.
Twa trestis, twa formes 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 630.
Traistis, formis, and benkis war poleist plane 1542 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 574.
Ane lang seitt, and ane foarme of aik 1566 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 100.
The hie burd with twa formis, … ane myd burd with twa formis a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxi. 47.
They had lang formis quhair we haue stulis 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 47.
Four formes and tua almries