Forms: 4–5 conforme(n, -fourme(n, -foorme, 4–7 -forme, 6– conform. (Also 4–6 conferm, 6 -firm, fyrm.) [a. F. conformer (13th c. in Littré), ad. L. conformāre, f. con- + formāre to shape, fashion, form.
In 14–16 c. there was considerable confusion between conform and confirm; conferm, firm, -fyrm being often written for conform, and conform sometimes for confirm. This prob. points to a (? dial.) pronunciation with ν or ə; cf. the mod. pronunciation of word, world, and the mod. spelling of work, worm, formerly werk, werm; also mod. Sc. furm (from earlier fourm) = form a school-seat.
1340. Ayenb., 121. Uor to confermi oure loue to his.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 21. Þe keyes of þe kirk only byndun & lousun, wan þei are confermid to þe keyes of Crist.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), II. vii. 101. Yf the lyfe be confermed unto the commaundementes of god.
1544. Bale, Chron. Sir J. Oldcastell, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 257. These … confyrmed alwayes their lyues to the most holye lawes … of Chryste.
1583. Babington, Commandm., iv. (1637), 35. The Lord Jesus Christ … confirme their practise of behaviour to his will.]
1. trans. To form, shape, or fashion according to some pattern, model, or instruction; to make of the same form or character, to make like.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, Prol. To confourme men þat ere filyd in adam til crist in newnes of lyf.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. xii. 2. And nyle ȝe be confoormed, or maad lyk, to this world.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 301. In all thynge to conforme my wyll to thy blessed wyll.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxvii. § 12. It truly conformeth us unto the image of Jesus Christ.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 42. States are so reformed, that they conforme such as are profligate, into good civility.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 461, ¶ 1. Persons of every Party … are fond of conforming their Taste to yours.
1875. Manning, Mission H. Ghost, iv. 100. But the soul that is united with God, and lives for God, is elevated and conformed to the perfect original of which it is the image.
1887. Skeat, Princ. Eng. Etymol., Ser. I. § 385. The word crouth, a fiddle … has been conformed to the familiar E. crowd.
† b. To fashion in accordance with right, to set right, to order, regulate. Obs.
1599. Massinger, etc., Old Law, II. i. His very household-laws … Are able to conform seven Christian Kingdoms, They are so wise and virtuous.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., Epit. (1612), 350. Yours in aught erred to be conformed, W. Warner.
† c. To fashion by disposition of parts (for a purpose): cf CONFORMATION 3. Obs.
1691. Ray, Creation, I. (1704), 168. Whose Bodies are admirably fitted and conformed for diving under Water.
2. To bring into harmony or conformity, to harmonize; to make accordant to, adapt.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIII. 208. Confourmen Kynges to pees.
1598. Barckley, Felic. Man, IV. (1603), 354. He should … conforme all the harmonie of His gifts to His goodnesse and glory.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 217. Chang’d at length, and to the place conform’d In temper and in nature.
1799. Wellington, in Owen’s Disp., 86. Conforming the general tenor of all such proclamations to the principles and spirit of the declaration.
1876. Lowell, Among my Bks., Ser. II. 271. [That] the life of a nation … should be conformed to certain principles of belief and conduct.
3. refl. To make oneself like or in harmony with (a pattern or example); to bring oneself into conformity, adapt oneself to (with); = 4.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1067. Confourme þe to kryst, & þe clene make.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1345. To the plesaunce of God thou the confourme.
1576. Fleming, Panop. Ep., 28. I beganne to conforme and frame mee to provoked patience.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. iii. 11. Where I must take like Seat vnto my fortune, And to my humble Seat conforme my selfe.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iii. III. Conforme thyselfe to thy present fortune, and Cut thy coat according to thy cloath.
1652. J. Wadsworth, trans. Sandoval’s Civ. Wars Spain, 55. To conform themselvs in everie thing with the Commissioners of Toledo.
1745. Fielding, True Patriot, Wks. 1775, IX. 284. I have determined to conform myself to the reigning taste.
1862. Maurice, Mor. & Met. Philos., IV. vii. § 92. 428. The true freeman is he who conforms himself to his reason.
4. intr. (for refl.) To act in accordance with an example or pattern; to act conformably or in conformity to; to yield or show compliance.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. IV. 401. Bote þat alle manere men, wommen, and children, Sholde conformye [v.r. conforme hem] to on kynde on holy kirke to by-leyue.
1623. Cockeram, Conforme, to frame ones selfe to what is required of one.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. ii. (1739), 3. Yet the Church of Britain conformed not to that course.
1732. Law, Serious C., vi. (ed. 2), 91. You must therefore no more conform to these ways of the world than you must conform to the vices of the world.
1846. M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), II. 163. Every subordinate tribunal must conform to its determinations.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xxiv. 170. I must … conform to the rules made for ordinary tourists.
b. spec. in Eng. Hist. To comply with the usages of the Church of England, as prescribed by the Acts of Uniformity, esp. that of 1662.
[1581. Act 23 Eliz., c. 1 § 5. Until such Time as the Persons … do conform themselves and come to the Church.]
1619. Sanderson, Serm., I. 11. Let not him that conformeth, despise him that conformeth not; and let not him that conformeth not, judge him that conformeth.
1629. Petit. Clergy, in MSS. St. Paper Office, Dom. Serv. Chas. I., cli. 45. May yt therefore please your good lordship to take the state of this your diocese into your ffatherly consideration … to enforce these irregulars to conforme with us.
1664. Pepys, Diary, Aug. 7. I would to God they would either conform, or be more wise, and not be catched!
1682. S. Pordage, Medal Rev., 121. For bare Opinion do their Brothers harm, Plague, and Imprison, ’cause they can’t Conform.
1690. Locke, 2nd Lett. Toleration (R.). When any dissenter conforms and enters into the Church-communion.
1885. Grosart, in Dict. Nat. Biog. II. 408/1 [John Bailey]. Ormond made offer first of a deanery, and then of the first bishopric that fell vacant, if Mr. Bailey would conform.
† c. To show obedience or complaisance to.
1482. Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 90. The pepul of god … that they haue turnyd fro ryhhtwysnes they fleyn spirytually and lesyn for her conformyng to hem.
1688. Shadwell, Sqr. Alsatia, II. i. I am resolved to conform to her for ever.
5. Of things: To become the same in form; to follow in form or nature; to be conformable to.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., xxv. (1700), 276. The Declarations of the Pardon are made to conform to the Conditions of the Gospel.
1763. Dodsley, The Leasowes, ¶ 5. The path … conforms to the water … accompanying this semicircular lake into another winding valley.
1869. F. A. March, A. S. Gramm., 28. The words of all languages show a disposition to conform in inflection to the majority.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 127. The law courts of Plato do not equally conform to the pattern of the Athenian dicasteries.
† 6. trans. To bring into accord or mutual agreement. Obs.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 128. If two [kingfishers] be suspended in the same roome, they will not regularly conforme their breasts, but oft-times respect the opposite points of heaven.
1703. De Foe, Danger Prot. Relig., Misc. 246. If the House of Bourbon and Austria Unite, and conform the Interests of their Dominions.
† 7. To bring into form or shape; to bring about.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIII. 174. Al þe witt of þis worlde and wiȝte mennes strengthe Can nouȝt confourmen [C. XVI. 173 performen] a pees bytwene þe pope and his enemys.
