Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

formŭla, ae, f. dim. [forma, I. B.], acc. to the different signiff. of forma. * (Acc. to I. B. 1.) A fine form, beauty: formula atque aetatula, Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 47.

  • II. (Acc. to forma, I. B. 2.)
    1. A. A small pattern, mould, last, acc. to which any thing is formed: calcei, Amm. 31, 2, 6.
      1. * 2. Transf., any thing made in a mould, a form, of cheese: solidatae, Pall. Mai. 9, 2.
  • * III. (Acc. to forma, I. B. 3.) A conduit, pipe of an aqueduct, Front. Aquaed. 36.
  • IV. (Acc. to forma, I. B. 4.) Jurid. t. t., a form, rule, method, formula for regulating judicial proceedings (the usual meaning; cf.: norma, regula, praescriptum): ut stipulationum et judiciorum formulas componam? Cic. Leg. 1, 4 fin.: in testamentorum formulis, hoc est, in medio jure civili versari, id. de Or. 1, 39 fin.; cf. antiquae, id. Brut. 52, 195: postulationum, id. Verr. 2, 2, 60, § 147: angustissima sponsionis, id. Rosc. Com. 4, 12: fiduciae, id. Fam. 7, 12, 2: de dolo malo, id. Off. 3, 14, 60: illa gloria militaris vestris formulis atque actionibus anteponenda est, id. Mur. 13, 29 init.: sunt jura, sunt formulae de omnibus rebus constitutae, id. Rosc. Com. 8, 24: a praetore postulat, ut sibi Quinctius judicatum solvi satis det ex formula: QVOD AB EO PETAT, CVIVS EX EDICTO PRAETORIS BONA DIES XXX. POSSESSA SINT, id. Quint. 8, 30: quod in foro atrocitate formularum dijudicatur, Quint. 7, 1, 37: vis hanc formulam cognitionis esse, ut, etc., the rule of evidence on which the inquiry is conducted, Liv. 40, 12, 20.
    On the formulae of actions, constituting a sort of code of procedure, v. Gai. Inst. 4, 30-48; and on the legal forms of the Romans in general, cf. Rein’s Röm. Privatr. p. 440 sq.
    1. B. Transf.
    1. I. In gen., for causa, a lawsuit, action, process (post-Aug.): quid enim aliud agitis, cum eum, quem interrogatis, scientes in fraudem impellitis, quam ut formulā cecidisse videatur, Sen. Ep. 48 fin.: formulā cadere, Quint. 3, 6, 69 (for which, in Cic., causā cadere): formulā excidere, Suet. Claud. 14.
        1. 2. Esp.: for mula letalis, a death-warrant, Amm. 14, 1, 3.
        2. 3. Beyond the legal sphere.
          1. a. In publicists’ lang., any form of contract, covenant, agreement, regulation: Acarnanas restituturum se in antiquam formulam jurisque ac dicionis eorum, Liv. 26, 24, 6 Drak.: citaverunt legatos, quaesiveruntque ab iis, ecquid milites ex formula paratos haberent? id. 27, 10, 2 sq.: aliquos in sociorum formulam referre, id. 43, 6, 10: (oppidum) Paracheloïda, quae sub Athamania esset, nullo iure Thessalorum formulae factam (= inique juris Thessalorum factum), id. 39, 26, 2.
          2. b. In gen., a rule, principle: ut sine ullo errore dijudicare possimus, si quando cum illo, quod honestum intelligimus, pugnare id videbitur, quod appellamus utile, formula quaedam constituenda est … erit autem haec formula Stoicorum rationi disciplinaeque maxime consentanea, etc., Cic. Off. 3, 4, 19 sq.: certa quaedam disciplinae formula, id. Ac. 1, 4, 17: formulam exprimere, id. Or. 11, 36: cujusque generis nota et formula, id. ib. 23, 75: consuetudinis nostrae, id. Opt. Gen. 7, 20.
          3. c. A condition, relation (post-Aug.): natio redacta in formulam provinciae, Vell. 2, 28, 1.