FORMALITY • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Formality

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/fɔrmˈæləti/ Listen

noun

Formality n. (pl. formalities)

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."

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."

4.

An established order; conventional rule of procedure; usual method; habitual mode. "He was installed with all the usual formalities."

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."

6.

That which is formal; the formal part. "It unties the inward knot of marriage,... while it aims to keep fast the outward formality."

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." "The formality of the vow lies in the promise made to God."

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.

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Etymology of 'Formality'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Formality" Quotes from Famous Books

... appearance of solidity and wealth, and, differing from all others in the door being ajar, I lingered before it last night with some inclination to enter. Then the procession which accompanied you came along. I heard your address to your friends, and wondered what the formality was about. After the door was closed I accosted one of those who escorted you, and learned your ...

— The Sword Maker • Robert Barr

... water, she should walk over the land, and we should see who would get tired of it first. Accordingly, an anchor was carried forward to a spot some forty yards off, where the water was deeper; the greater part of the passengers were made to jump overboard, without even going through the formality of walking the plank; while the remainder manned the capstan-bars. The chain-cable tightened, the capstan creaked, and the paddles dashed round; but we did not stir an inch till the natives, who had been ...

— Chambers' Edinburgh Journal - Volume XVII., No 423, New Series. February 7th, 1852 • Various

... or Poetic Edda. From its application to this collection, the word derives a more extended use, (1) as a general term for Norse mythology; (2) as a convenient name to distinguish the simpler style of these anonymous narrative poems from the elaborate formality ...

— The Edda, Vol. 1 - The Divine Mythology of the North, Popular Studies in Mythology, - Romance, and Folklore, No. 12 • Winifred Faraday

... were made to prevent the separation of families, and yet neither brothers nor sisters are provided for. In order that relatives who are provided for may be reunited, those still in foreign lands must be sent for to join the immigrant here. What formality is necessary to constitute this prerequisite, and how are the facts of relationship and that the relative is sent for to be established? Are the illiterate relatives of immigrants who have come here under prior laws entitled to the advantage of these exceptions? A husband who ...

— Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents - Volume 8, Section 2 (of 2): Grover Cleveland • Grover Cleveland

... had been educated abroad. But despite the lure of the Western freedom, they had returned to their country with their heads level and their traditions intact. But you guess wrong, honey, if you imagine custom and formality of official life have so overcome these high-born ladies as to make them lay figures who dare not raise their eyes except by rule. There were three American guests, and only by being as nimble as grasshoppers did we hold our own in the table talk which was as exhilarating ...

— The Lady and Sada San - A Sequel to The Lady of the Decoration • Frances Little

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