The Collaborative International Dictionary
Form \Form\ (f[=o]rm; in senses 8 & 9, often f[=o]rm in England), n. [OE. & F. forme, fr. L. forma; cf. Skr. dhariman. Cf. Firm.]
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The shape and structure of anything, as distinguished from the material of which it is composed; particular disposition or arrangement of matter, giving it individuality or distinctive character; configuration; figure; external appearance.
The form of his visage was changed.
--Dan. iii. 19.And woven close close, both matter, form, and style.
--Milton. Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system; as, a republican form of government.
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Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula; as, a form of prayer.
Those whom form of laws Condemned to die.
--Dryden. -
Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality; as, a matter of mere form.
Though well we may not pass upon his life Without the form of justice.
--Shak. -
Orderly arrangement; shapeliness; also, comeliness; elegance; beauty.
The earth was without form and void.
--Gen. i. 2.He hath no form nor comeliness.
--Is. liii. 2. A shape; an image; a phantom.
That by which shape is given or determined; mold; pattern; model.
A long seat; a bench; hence, a rank of students in a school; a class; also, a class or rank in society. ``Ladies of a high form.''
--Bp. Burnet.-
The seat or bed of a hare.
As in a form sitteth a weary hare.
--Chaucer. (Print.) The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase.
(Fine Arts) The boundary line of a material object. In (painting), more generally, the human body.
(Gram.) The particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech; as, participial forms; verbal forms.
(Crystallog.) The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid.
(Metaph.) That assemblage or disposition of qualities which makes a conception, or that internal constitution which makes an existing thing to be what it is; -- called essential or substantial form, and contradistinguished from matter; hence, active or formative nature; law of being or activity; subjectively viewed, an idea; objectively, a law.
Mode of acting or manifestation to the senses, or the intellect; as, water assumes the form of ice or snow. In modern usage, the elements of a conception furnished by the mind's own activity, as contrasted with its object or condition, which is called the matter; subjectively, a mode of apprehension or belief conceived as dependent on the constitution of the mind; objectively, universal and necessary accompaniments or elements of every object known or thought of.
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(Biol.) The peculiar characteristics of an organism as a type of others; also, the structure of the parts of an animal or plant.
Good form or Bad form, the general appearance, condition or action, originally of horses, afterwards of persons; as, the members of a boat crew are said to be in good form when they pull together uniformly. The phrases are further used colloquially in description of conduct or manners in society; as, it is not good form to smoke in the presence of a lady.
Wiktionary
n. (context chiefly UK English) behavior that is both morally and socially correct; proper manner, decorum or etiquette.
WordNet
n. behavior that conforms to social conventions of the time; "it is not good form to brag about winning"
Wikipedia
"Good Form" is the fifth episode of the third season of the American fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time, and the show's 49th episode overall.
This episode follows the origins of Hook's ( Colin O'Donoghue) early life as he and his brother, Captain Liam ( Bernard Curry), sail off under orders of the King to find a powerful indigenous plant on an uncharted land that could help heal any injury. It could prove key to helping David ( Josh Dallas) as the Dreamshade starts to consume him, and Hook sets off to find a sextant that could help the Storybrooke inhabitants escape Neverland.
The episode, written by Christine Boylan and Daniel T. Thomsen and first broadcast on October 27, 2013, received positive reviews from critics.
Usage examples of "good form".
His reservoirs of optimistic exclamation, his unlimited capacity to enlarge on his faith in progress: these are like the twirled cane or the flower in the lapel, the boulevardier's tokens of good form.
Old Marchell wants to join us, and much as I'd prefer to be alone with you, it's not good form to say no to the boss.
She said nothing, and I thought it would probably be good form if I didn't either.
I think it was perfect good form in Laura to bolt from Lupton to the church door.
Melus the Fair is going to have to be in good form to keep things legal.
Despite his earlier weariness he is in good form now, gestures broad and forceful, eyes commanding, voice deep and resonant, words flowing freely.
It was about the limit he could go, just to stand there, but he walked forward, bowed to his Emperor, bowed to lord Reidi, everything in good form.
Of course it took more than an hour, or a week, for Samuel to rearrange his ideas on the essential importance of good form.
A couple of generations ago it was considered good form to kill off your business competitors if you could.
From a mouth less adorable than the mouth of Miss Sartorius such an introduction might have been judged lacking in the elements of good form, but for more than two years now Kitty had known that whatever she did or said was perfectly correct because she did or said it.