Search the Dictionary

Admittance to a hearing; a formal interview, esp. with a sovereign or the head of a government, for conference or the transaction of business. According to the fair play of the world, Let me have audience: I am sent to speak. Shak.

Vested with all due formalities, and legally attested.

To render authentic; to give authority to, by the proof, attestation, or formalities required by law, or sufficient to entitle to credit. The king serves only as a notary to authenticate the choice of judges. Burke.

Blind; stupid. [Obs.] "A formal and bayardly round of duties." Goodman.

A solemn rite by which bells, banners, candles, etc., are blessed with holy water, and formally dedicated to God.

ights is prefixed to most of the constitutions of the several States. -- Bill of sale, a formal instrument for the conveyance or transfer of goods and chattels. -- Bill of sight, a form of entry at the customhouse, by which goods, respecting which the importer is not possessed of full information, may be provisionall…

To admit into the church by confirmation; to confirm; hence, to receive formally to favor.

Characterized by a method of expression generally found in books; formal; labored; pedantic; as, a bookish way of talking; bookish sentences. -- Book"ish*ly, adv. -- Book"ish*ness, n.

A reducing to heads or articles; a formal agreement. With special capitulation that neither the Scots nor the French shall refortify. Bp. Burnet.

e or redult. -- Final cause, the end, design, or object, for which anything is done. -- Formal cause, the elements of a conception which make the conception or the thing conceived to be what it is; or the idea viewed as a formative principle and coöperating with the matter. -- Material cause, that of which anything…

Informal talk or discussion, as about literary matters; light conversation; chat.

A procession of persons on horseback; a formal, pompous march of horsemen by way of parade. He brought back war-worn cavalcade to the city. Prescott.

According to prescribed or customary rules and forms; devoted to forms and ceremonies; formally respectful; punctilious. "Ceremonious phrases." Addison. Too ceremonious and traditional. Shak.

Behavior regulated by strict etiquette; a formal method of performing acts of civility; forms of civility prescribed by custom or authority. Ceremony was but devised at first To set a gloss on . . . hollow welcomes . . . But where there is true friendship there needs none. Shak. Al ceremonies are in themselves very sil…

Characterized by coolness of manner, feeling, etc.; lacking enthusiasm or warmth; formal; distant; as, a chill reception.

Formality; lack of warmth.

A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping together. "When they had ordained them elders in every church." Acts xiv. 23.

d of, to seize roughly or quickly. -- To clap up. (a) To imprison hastily or without due formality. (b) To make or contrive hastily. [Obs.] "Was ever match clapped up so suddenly" Shak.

conversation, esp. common and familiar conversation; conversational; hence, unstudied; informal; as, colloquial intercourse; colloquial phrases; a colloquial style. -- Col*lo"qui*al*ly, adv. His [Johnson's] colloquial talents were, indeed, of the highest order. Macaulay.

A colloquial expression, not employed in formal discourse or writing.