Obs. exc. arch. [a. OF. formosité, ad. L. formōsitat-em, f. formōsus: see prec. and -ITY.] Beauty; also, a beauty.
1489–99. Inscription, Holloway Chapel, Widcome, nr. Bath, in Wood, Life (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), II. 409.
| Thys chapill floryschyd with formosyte spectabyll | |
| In honor of Mary Magdalen prior Cantlow had edyfyd. |
a. 1521. Helyas, in Thoms, Prose Rom. (1858), III. 27. The beaute and formosite of hir noble persone moeveth me to be her husbande.
1647. R. Baron, Cyprian Acad., 8. He left not many trees behind him, before he discovered mounted upon a black Palfrey a Damsell of exquisite formosity, urged with sorrow making towards him.
1652. F. Kirkman, Clerio & Lozia, 122. It is idolatrous for him to bend before so many graces and formosities.
1893. T. F. Henderson, Old-World Scotland, xv. 172. At least squalor and dirt were thoroughly antagonistic to adornment and ‘formosity.’
