I. (Acc. to I. B. 1.) A fine form, beauty: “formula atque aetatula,” Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 47.—
II. (Acc. to forma, I. B. 2.)
A. A small pattern, mould, last, acc. to which any thing is formed: “calcei,” Amm. 31, 2, 6.—*
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,” Cic. 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.—
B. Transf.
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.—
3. Beyond the legal sphere.
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.—
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.—
c. A condition, relation (post-Aug.): “natio redacta in formulam provinciae,” Vell. 2, 28, 1.
