PRESENTLY, adv. of time.
1. Instantly, without delay. Exactly synonymous with immediately; being never with propriety employed to denote any thing but future time.
2. Formerly it was employed to express present time. Thus, The house presently possessed by such a one, was often used, but this has now become a vicious expression; and we ought to say, The house possessed at present. It differs from immediately in this, that
even in the most corrupt phrases it never can denote Dictionary. past time.
Form, subst. The external appearance of any object, when considered only with reference to shape or figure. This term, therefore, in the literal sense, can only be applied to the objects of sight and touch, and is therefore nearly synonymous with figure; but these terms differ in some respects. Form may be employed to denote more rude and unfinished shapes; figure, those which are more perfect and regular. Form can never be employed without denoting matter, whereas figure may be employed in the abstract: thus we say a square or a triangular figure, but not a square or triangular form. And in the same manner we say the figure of a house; but we must denote the substance which forms that figure if we use the word form; as, a cloud of the form of a house. See FIGURE.
2. In contrast to irregularity or confusion. As beauty cannot exist without order, it is by a figure of speech employed to denote beauty, order, and the like.
3. As form respects only the external appearance of bodies, without regard to their internal qualities, it is, by a figure of speech, employed in contrast to these qualities to denote empty show, without essential qualities. In this sense it is often taken when applied to religious ceremonies, pageantry, and so forth.
4. As form is employed to denote the external appearance of bodies, so, in a figurative sense, it is applied to reasoning, denoting the particular mode or manner in which this is conducted; as, the form of a syllogism, &c.
5. In the same manner it is employed to denote the particular mode of procedure established in courts of law; as, the forms of law, religion, and the like.
6. Form is sometimes, although improperly, used to denote the different circumstances of the same body; as, water in a fluid or a solid form. But as this phrase regards the internal qualities rather than the external figure, it is improper, and ought to be, water in a fluid or a solid state.
7. But when bodies of different kinds are compared with one another, this term may be employed to denote other circumstances than shape or figure; for we may say, a juice exuding from a tree in the form of wax or resin; although, in this case, the consistence, colour, &c. and not the external arrangement of parts, constitutes the resemblance.
8. From the regular appearance of a number of persons arranged in one long seat, such persons so arranged are sometimes called a form; as, a form of students, &c. And,
9. By an easy transition the seat itself has also acquired that name.