Now rare. [f. ppl. stem of L. configūrā-re: see CONFIGURE.]
1. trans. To frame by construction, to fashion, shape; to give a configuration to. Also fig.
1566. Painter, Pal. Pleas., I. 79. The condicion of the noursse, and nature of the milke … doth nowe … configurate and frame a newe disposition in him.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (1871), 29. Divers have tried their cunning to configurate a twin-like image of it.
1755. B. Martin, Mag. Arts & Sc., III. v. 288. The Particles so combined and configurated are called the Crystals of such and such Salts, or Metals.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xi. The cavities of the body are so configurated, as externally to exhibit the most exact correspondency of the opposite sides.
1837. Sir F. Palgrave, Merch. & Friar, v. (1844), 195. The varieties of light and shade which our vulgar configurate into the churl with the bunch of thorns on his back.
† 2. To fashion according to something else as a model, to conform. Obs.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), 1 Pet. i. 14. Not configurated to the former desires of your ignorance.
† 3. Astrol. To associate in a configuration (q.v. sense 2). Obs.
1671. Dryden, Evening’s Love, II. i. Jupiter configurated with malevolent planets.
† 4. (?) intr. ‘To show like the aspects of the planets towards each other’ (T.); or (?) to show conformity or congruity of structure. Obs.
a. 1650. Jordan, Poems. Where pyramids to pyramids relate, And the whole fabrick doth configurate.
Hence Configurated, Configurating ppl. adjs.
1752. Parsons, Phil. Trans., XLVII. 513. A little configurated jelly.
1808. Herschel, ibid., XCIX. 274. Modified … by the configurating power of surfaces.
