Obs. Also 8 formatrice. [a. late L. formātrix, fem. agent-n. f. formāre to form.] Formative faculty. Also vertue formatrix.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Life (1770), 22. Since in my mother’s womb this Plastica or Formatrix which formed my eyes, ears, and other senses, did not intend them for that dark and noysome place, but as being conscious of a better life, made them as fitting organs to apprehend and perceive those things which should occur in this world: so I believe since my coming into this world my soul hath formed or produced certain faculties which are almost as useless for this life, as the abovenamed senses were for the mother’s womb.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 82. The natural heat which is the instrument of the vertue Formatrix, hath not yet perfected their Noses, nor elevated that Cartilage to its naturall and appointed magnitude, according to whose figure all appellations of the Nose are referred.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iii. 180. The soul endued with a Plastick Power [is] the chief Formatrix of its own body, the Contribution of certain other Causes not excluded.
