configure, v.
(kənˈfɪgjʊə(r), -ˈfɪgə(r))
[ad. L. configūrāre, to fashion after some pattern, f. con- together + figūrāre to shape: see figure v. Cf. F. configure-r (16th c. in Littré).]
1. trans. To fashion according to something else as a model; to conform in figure or fashion (to).
| 1382 Wyclif Phil. iii. 10 Configurid, or made lyk, to his deeth [1582 Rhem. configured to his death]. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (1531) 104 b, Configured & conformed specyally to the ymage of y⊇ son of god. 1858 Bushnell Serm. New Life 33 Man is spirit, a nature configured to God. |
† 2. To represent by a figure or image, to figure.
| 1630 Lane Sqr.'s Tale 45 Thideal formes, configuringe All our sweet flowers, trees, fruites. |
3. To fashion by combination and arrangement; to give an astrological configuration to; to put together in a certain form or figure.
| 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 178 A witch works by a living dog, cat, mouse, rat, &c. But he [a magician] by a dead one, configured, constellated,..painted. 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. iii. vii. 287 Divulsa membra come together, and configured into a humane Shape. 1693 Bentley Atheism iv. 8 Coming together..and so configuring themselves into Humane shape. 1795 tr. Mercier's Fragm. II. 174, I could perceive that the globe was so configured as that, etc. |
b. fig. To give a figure to; to shape.
| 1857–8 Sears Athan. xii. 108 The resurrection..brings forth the inmost life, and configures it cleared of all deceptive appearances. 1881 Morley Cobden I. 8 A..conception..by which the desire to learn was gradually directed and configured. |
4. Computing. To choose or design a configuration for; to combine (a program or device) with other elements to perform a certain task or provide a certain capability.
| [1965 AFIPS Conf. Proc. XXVII. 201/2 It is necessary to reconfigure the system relatively easily.] 1966 [see multitasking vbl. n. and a.]. 1978 Sci. Amer. Feb. 29/2 (Advt.), The HP 1615 can be configured, through simple keyboard entries, as a 24-bit state analyzer. 1979 Personal Computer World Nov. 48 The Challenger III series offers a variety of memory sizes, peripherals and software configured around the basic board. 1982 What's New in Computing Nov. 6/3 The 2250 may be configured with up to four of these discs in any mix. 1985 Pract. Computing May 87/2 A further problem with these programs..is that they cannot be configured to work in 40-column mode. |