See also: formál and formål

EnglishEdit

 
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Etymology 1Edit

From Middle English formel, borrowed from Old French formel, from Latin formalis, from forma (form); see form.

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

formal (comparative more formal, superlative most formal)

  1. Being in accord with established forms.
    She spoke formal English, without any dialect.
  2. Official.
    I'd like to make a formal complaint.
    Despite efforts by limnologists and freshwater biologists to create a formal definition of “pond”, there is still no universal distinction between a “pond” and a “lake.”
  3. Relating to the form or structure of something.
    Formal linguistics ignores the vocabulary of languages and focuses solely on their grammar.
    • 1978, Heikki Seppä, Form Emphasis for Metalsmiths, [Kent, Oh.]: Kent State University Press, →ISBN, page 1:
      THE THREE DOMINANT FORMS IN METALSMITHING [] At present, there are but three basic volumetric forms dominating the work of metalsmiths, the spherical (usually in its most practical form, the domical), the cylindrical, and the cubical. [] The possibilities for further variations on them are all but exhausted, there being little chance to express new and unusual ideas within the framework of such limited choices. As a result, much of twentieth-century metalsmithing has relied on surface enrichment rather than formal development for its originality.
  4. Relating to formation.
    The formal stage is a critical part of any child's development.
  5. Ceremonial or traditional.
    Formal wear must be worn at my wedding!
  6. Proper, according to strict etiquette; not casual.
    He's always very formal, and I wish he'd relax a bit.
  7. Organized; well-structured and planned.
    When they became a formal club the rowers built a small boathouse.
  8. (mathematics) Relating to mere manipulation and construction of strings of symbols, without regard to their meaning.
    Formal series are defined without any reference to convergence.
AntonymsEdit
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

NounEdit

formal (countable and uncountable, plural formals)

  1. (clothing) An evening gown.
    • 1965, Shadow Morton (lyrics and music), “Sophisticated Boom Boom”, performed by The Shangri-Las:
      Well, I open up the door / And much to my surprise / The girls were wearin' formals / And the boys were wearin' ties
  2. An event with a formal dress code.
    Jenny took Sam to her Year 12 formal.
  3. (programming) A formal parameter.
  4. (Oxbridge slang) Ellipsis of formal hall..
Derived termsEdit

Etymology 2Edit

see formo-

NounEdit

formal (plural formals)

  1. (uncountable) Formalin.
  2. An acetal formed from formaldehyde.
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit

Further readingEdit

AnagramsEdit

CatalanEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from Latin fōrmālis.

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

formal (masculine and feminine plural formals)

  1. formal
    Antonym: informal

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

Further readingEdit

Crimean TatarEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from Latin formalis, from forma (form).

AdjectiveEdit

formal

  1. formal

ReferencesEdit

  • Mirjejev, V. A.; Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎[1], Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN

GalicianEdit

Etymology 1Edit

Inherited from Latin formalis.

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

formal m (plural formais)

  1. site, plot
    • 1290, M. Lucas Álvarez P. Lucas Domínguez (eds.), El monasterio de San Clodio do Ribeiro en la Edad Media: estudio y documentos. Sada / A Coruña: Edicións do Castro, page 415:
      damos a uos que tenades de nos essa cassa en que uos ora morades en Eyres, con seu saydo et con todo o formal dessa casa, asi como esta çerrada de muro ao tenpo da era desta carta.
      we give you, for you to have, that house where you now dwell in Eires, with its garden and with the whole plot of that house, as it is enclosed with a wall at the time of this charter
    Synonym: sesego
  2. foundation, ruin
  3. mould for the production of tiles

Etymology 2Edit

Borrowed from Latin formalis.

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

formal m or f (plural formais)

  1. formal
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
Further readingEdit

ReferencesEdit

  • formal” in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval, SLI - ILGA 2006–2022.
  • formal” in Xavier Varela Barreiro & Xavier Gómez Guinovart: Corpus Xelmírez - Corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval. SLI / Grupo TALG / ILG, 2006–2018.
  • formal” in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega, SLI - ILGA 2006–2013.
  • formal” in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega. Santiago: ILG.
  • formal” in Álvarez, Rosario (coord.): Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués, Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega.

GermanEdit

EtymologyEdit

Form +‎ -al

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

formal (strong nominative masculine singular formaler, comparative formaler, superlative am formalsten)

  1. formal (being in accord with established forms)

Usage notesEdit

Not to be confused with formell. The adjectives formell and informell express the presence or absence of ceremonies: ein informelles Treffen is a meeting in a near-private context. The adjective formal stresses the outward appearance (pro forma) as opposed to the content or the spirit.

DeclensionEdit

Further readingEdit

  • formal” in Duden online
  • formal” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

PiedmonteseEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Latin formalis.

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

formal

  1. formal

PortugueseEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from Latin fōrmālis. By surface analysis, forma +‎ -al.

PronunciationEdit

 

  • Rhymes: -al, -aw
  • Hyphenation: for‧mal

AdjectiveEdit

formal m or f (plural formais)

  1. formal (being in accord with established forms)
  2. formal (official)
  3. formal (relating to the form or structure of something)
  4. formal (ceremonial)
  5. (logic) formal (involving mere manipulations of symbols)

Derived termsEdit

Further readingEdit

  • formal” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913

RomanianEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from French formel, Latin formalis.

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

formal m or n (feminine singular formală, masculine plural formali, feminine and neuter plural formale)

  1. formal

DeclensionEdit

Related termsEdit

SpanishEdit

EtymologyEdit

Borrowed from Latin formalis.

PronunciationEdit

  • IPA(key): /foɾˈmal/ [foɾˈmal]
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Syllabification: for‧mal

AdjectiveEdit

formal (plural formales)

  1. formal
  2. reliable, dependable

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

Further readingEdit