▪ I. conform, a. ? Obs.
(kənˈfɔːm)
[a. F. conforme (16th c. in Littré), ad. L. conform-is, f. con- together with + forma form, shape.]
1. Having the same form or character; similar, like; = conformable 1. Const. to.
| 1447 [see conformly]. 1513 Douglas æneis vi. Prol. 40 Mony clausis he fand, Quhilk bene conforme, or than collaterall. 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 861 Made conforme to the Image of the same God. 1660 Waterhouse Arms & Arm. 27 Conform to the protoplast in the direct line of regularity. 1678 Trans. Crt. Spain 36 A letter..whereof a great many Copies, all Conform, have been dispersed. 1685 Lond. Gaz. No. 2031/1 All very fine with their Foot-Mantles and traping conform. 1738 Hist. Crt. Excheq. vii. 129 In a conform measure and of one Size. 1816 Colebrooke in Asiatic Res. XII. 539 Seed solitary, conform to the cavity of the capsule. 1861 W. Bell Dict. Sc. Law s.v. Decreet Conform, The decree issued by the Court of Session in aid of the inferior court decree was called a decree conform, i.e. a decree in the precise terms of the former decree, with the additional sanction of the Court of Session. |
2. Exhibiting harmony or agreement; consistent, accordant; = conformable 2.
| 1550 Bale Apol. 55 In y⊇ scriptures is no confuse ordre, but a conforme and consonant ordre. a 1587 Mary Q. of Scots in Froude Hist. Eng. (1881) VII. xliii. 189 Is that conform to her promise to use me as a sister or daughter? 1665 J. Webb Stone-Heng (1725) 35 The most exact Rule, and of all others..the most conform unto Vitruvius. 1733 Fielding Miser iii. xi, Your consent will appear not altogether conform to those nice rules of decorum. 1805 W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. XX. 112 The following expressions, although conform to usage, thwart the definitions. |
† 3. Conforming religiously, conformist. Obs.
| 1663 Blair Autobiog. vi. (1848) 82 Some of the conform clergy provoked me to a dispute. 1711 C.M. Lett. to Curat 16 Here was a Bishop, who Himself was not conform, who..was Indulged in his non-conformity. |
4. By Scotch writers used advb.: In conformity to, conformably or agreeably to, according to.
| 1535 Sc. Acts Jas. V (1597) §14 To find the said souertie, conforme to the said acte. 1676 Gregory in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) I. 224 To make proffer of my best endeavours..conform to the way of my weak ability. a 1714 Burnet Own Time (1823) I. 205 [To] settle their government, conform to the scriptures. 1738 D. Bayne Gout 126 Conform to the vulgar opinion that there is no cure for the gout. |
▪ II. conform, v.
(kənˈfɔːm)
Forms: 4–5 conforme(n, -fourme(n, -foorme, 4–7 -forme, 6– conform. (Also 4–6 conferm, 6 -firm, fyrm.)
[a. F. conformer (13th c. in Littré), ad. L. conformāre, f. con- + formāre to shape, fashion, form.
In 14–16 c. there was considerable confusion between conform and confirm; conferm, -firm, -fyrm being often written for conform, and conform sometimes for confirm. This prob. points to a (? dial.) pronunciation with (ʌ) or (ə); cf. the mod. pronunciation of word, world, and the mod. spelling of work, worm, formerly werk, werm; also mod. Sc. furm (from earlier fourm) = form a school-seat.
1340 Ayenb. 121 Uor to confermi oure loue to his. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 21 Þe keyes of þe kirk only byndun & lousun, wan þei are confermid to þe keyes of Crist. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) ii. vii. 101 Yf the lyfe be confermed unto the commaundementes of god. 1544 Bale Chron. Sir J. Oldcastell in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) I. 257 These..confyrmed alwayes their lyues to the most holye lawes..of Chryste. 1583 Babington Commandm. iv. (1637) 35 The Lord Jesus Christ..confirme their practise of behaviour to his will.]
1. trans. To form, shape, or fashion according to some pattern, model, or instruction; to make of the same form or character, to make like.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter Prol., To confourme men þat ere filyd in adam til crist in newnes of lyf. 1382 Wyclif Rom. xii. 2 And nyle ȝe be confoormed, or maad lyk, to this world. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 301 In all thynge to conforme my wyll to thy blessed wyll. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxvii. §12 It truly conformeth us unto the image of Jesus Christ. 1647 Ward Simp. Cobler 42 States are so reformed, that they conforme such as are profligate, into good civility. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 461 ¶1 Persons of every Party..are fond of conforming their Taste to yours. 1875 Manning Mission H. Ghost iv. 100. 1887 Skeat Princ. Eng. Etymol. Ser. i. §385 The word crouth, a fiddle..has been conformed to the familiar E. crowd. |
† b. To fashion in accordance with right, to set right, to order, regulate. Obs.
| 1599 Massinger, etc. Old Law ii. i, His very household-laws..Are able to conform seven Christian Kingdoms, They are so wise and virtuous. 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. Epit. (1612) 350 Yours in aught erred to be conformed, W. Warner. |
† c. To fashion by disposition of parts (for a purpose): cf conformation 3. Obs.
| 1691 Ray Creation i. (1704) 168 Whose Bodies are admirably fitted and conformed for diving under Water. |
2. To bring into harmony or conformity, to harmonize; to make accordant to, adapt.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiii. 208 Confourmen Kynges to pees. 1598 R. Barckley Felic. Man iv. (1603) 354 He should..conforme all the harmonie of His gifts to His goodnesse and glory. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 217 Chang'd at length, and to the place conform'd In temper and in nature. 1799 Wellington in Owen Disp. 86 Conforming the general tenor of all such proclamations to the principles and spirit of the declaration. 1876 Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. ii. 271 [That] the life of a nation..should be conformed to certain principles of belief and conduct. |
3. refl. To make oneself like or in harmony with (a pattern or example); to bring oneself into conformity, adapt oneself to (with); = 4.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 1067 Confourme þe to kryst, & þe clene make. a 1420 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 1345 To the plesaunce of God thou the confourme. 1576 Fleming Panop. Ep. 28, I beganne to conforme and frame mee to provoked patience. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iii. iii. 11 Where I must take like Seat vnto my fortune, And to my humble Seat conforme my selfe. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iii. iii, Conforme thyselfe to thy present fortune, and Cut thy coat according to thy cloath. 1652 J. Wadsworth tr. Sandoval's Civ. Wars Spain 55 To conform themselvs in everie thing with the Commissioners of Toledo. 1745 Fielding True Patriot Wks. 1775 IX. 284, I have determined to conform myself to the reigning taste. 1862 Maurice Mor. & Met. Philos. IV. vii. §92. 428 The true freeman is he who conforms himself to his reason. |
4. intr. (for refl.) To act in accordance with an example or pattern; to act conformably or in conformity to; to yield or show compliance.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. iv. 401 Bote þat alle manere men, wommen, and children, Sholde conformye [v.r. conforme hem] to on kynde on holy kirke to by-leyue. 1623 Cockeram, Conforme, to frame ones selfe to what is required of one. 1649 Selden Laws Eng. i. ii. (1739) 3 Yet the Church of Britain conformed not to that course. 1732 Law Serious C. vi. (ed. 2) 91 You must therefore no more conform to these ways of the world than you must conform to the vices of the world. 1846 M{supc}Culloch Acc. Brit. Empire (1854) II. 163 Every subordinate tribunal must conform to its determinations. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxiv. 170, I must..conform to the rules made for ordinary tourists. |
b. spec. in Eng. Hist. To comply with the usages of the Church of England, as prescribed by the Acts of Uniformity, esp. that of 1662.
| [1581 Act 23 Eliz. c. 1 §5 Until such Time as the Persons..do conform themselves and come to the Church.] 1619 Sanderson Serm. I. 11 Let not him that conformeth, despise him that conformeth not; and let not him that conformeth not, judge him that conformeth. 1629 Petit. Clergy in MSS. St. Paper Office, Dom. Serv. Chas. I, cli. 45 May yt therefore please your good lordship to take the state of this your diocese into your ffatherly consideration..to enforce these irregulars to conforme with us. 1664 Pepys Diary Aug. 6. 1682 S. Pordage Medal Rev. 121 For bare Opinion do their Brothers harm, Plague, and Imprison, 'cause they can't Conform. 1690 Locke 2nd Let. Toleration (R.), When any dissenter conforms and enters into the Church-communion. 1885 Grosart in Dict. Nat. Biog. II. 408/1 Ormond made offer first of a deanery, and then of the first bishopric that fell vacant, if Mr. Bailey would conform. |
† c. To show obedience or complaisance to.
| 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 90 The pepul of god..that they haue turnyd fro ryhhtwysnes they fleyn spirytually and lesyn for her conformyng to hem. 1688 Shadwell Sqr. Alsatia ii. i, I am resolved to conform to her for ever. |
5. Of things: To become the same in form; to follow in form or nature; to be conformable to.
| 1699 Burnet 39 Art. xxv. (1700) 276 The Declarations of the Pardon are made to conform to the Conditions of the Gospel. 1763 Dodsley The Leasowes ¶5 The path..conforms to the water..accompanying this semicircular lake into another winding valley. 1869 F. A. March A.S. Gramm. 28 The words of all languages show a disposition to conform in inflection to the majority. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 127 The law courts of Plato do not equally conform to the pattern of the Athenian dicasteries. |
† 6. trans. To bring into accord or mutual agreement. Obs.
| 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 128 If two [kingfishers] be suspended in the same roome, they will not regularly conforme their breasts, but oft-times respect the opposite points of heaven. 1703 De Foe Danger Prot. Relig. Misc. 246 If the House of Bourbon and Austria Unite, and conform the Interests of their Dominions. |
† 7. To bring into form or shape; to bring about.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiii. 174 Al þe witt of þis worlde and wiȝte mennes strengthe Can nouȝt confourmen [C. xvi. 173 performen] a pees bytwene þe pope and his enemys. |