form
LatinVariants
Related Roots
About This Root
From Latin forma (form, shape, figure, appearance). Extremely productive across registers: form, formal, format, formula, and formulate relate to structure and shape. Prefixes create rich meanings: conform (shape together), deform (shape badly), inform (shape the mind), reform (re-shape), transform (shape across), and uniform (one shape).
Associated Words
conform
To behave according to accepted standards; to comply with requirements
conformist
A person who follows social norms; tending to conform to conventions
conformity
Compliance with rules or social norms; agreement or similarity
deform
To distort or become misshapen; having an abnormal shape
deformation
A change in shape or form, especially due to stress
diversiform
Having different or varying forms
form
the shape of something; a document to fill in; to create or develop
formal
Following official rules or conventions; a formal social event
formality
A required procedure or custom; something done as a routine convention
formalized
Made official or given a recognized form
format
The layout or structure of a document; to arrange or set up a document's layout
formation
The process of coming into being; an arrangement of people or things
formative
Having a strong influence on development; relating to early formation
formerly
At a previous time; in the past
forms
Shapes or printed documents; creates or develops something
formula
A rule expressed in symbols; a method for achieving a result
formulate
To express or develop something clearly and precisely
formulation
The act of expressing something clearly; a prepared mixture
inform
To tell someone about a fact or situation; to give character to something
informal
Relaxed and casual; not official or formal
information
facts or knowledge about a topic; a message
informative
Providing useful or interesting information
informed
Knowledgeable; based on good understanding of the facts
informer
A person who secretly reports others to authorities
perform
to do or carry out; to present to an audience
performance
a show or concert; how well something works
platform
A raised surface for standing on; a railway boarding area; a political programme
prefigure
To be an early sign of something to come; to foreshadow
reform
A change to improve something flawed; to correct and improve
reformer
A person who works to bring about social or political reform
reformism
The doctrine of achieving change through gradual reform rather than revolution
transform
To change completely in form or nature; a mathematical conversion operation
transformation
A dramatic change in form, appearance, or character
uniformity
The state of being the same throughout; lack of variation
uniformly
In a consistent and even manner