Transform v.

[ad. L. transformāre, f. TRANS- + formāre to form, f. forma form. Cf. F. transformer (14th c. in Godef., Compl.), also OF. tresformer.]

  1.  trans. To change the form of; to change into another shape or form; to metamorphose.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr., 15. In transfourmynge of þe saule in þe Godhede.

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Cor. iii. 18. Alle we … ben transformyd into the same ymage.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), iv. 11. Of Ypocras daughter transformed from a womman to a dragoun.

1483.  Caxton, Cato, b vij b. This catte … is myn owne daughter the whiche by the plesure and wylle of god hath ben transfourmed in to a catte.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Mark i. 5 b. That thynges of muche contrarietie maye easely be transformed, and tourned one into an other.

1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., III. ii. 151. And I thinke, if my brest had not beene made of faith, and my heart of steele, she had transform’d me to a Curtull dog, & made me turne i’ th wheele.

1660.  F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 268. When Magicians shall have power to transform a humane body.

1813.  Scott, Rokeby, I. xxxi. The victor sees his fairy gold, Transform’d, when won, to drossy mold.

1827.  Faraday, Chem. Manip., xxiv. (1842), 618. Transform several small crystals of sulphate of nickel into a large one.

1853.  J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1873), II. I. ii. 65. To Samarcand … we owe the art of transforming linen into paper.

  b.  transf. To change in character or condition; to alter in function or nature.

1556.  J. Heywood, Spider & F., ii. 5. My whole estate … Is here transformde from myrth to miserie.

1675.  Traherne, Chr. Ethics, 270. Love … transformes the most virulent affections into smooth, healing, perfective pleasures.

1796.  Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 306. He transformed an undisciplined body of peasantry into a regular army of soldiers.

1858.  H. Rogers, Ecl. Faith (1853), 16. A volume, which has transformed them from savages into men, and from idolaters into Christians.

  c.  Math. To alter (a figure, expression, etc.) to another differing in form, but equal in quantity or value.

1743.  Emerson, Fluxions, 22. To transform the Fluxion…, assume [etc.].

1884.  trans. Lotze’s Logic, 332. These equations we transform in all sorts of ways by adding on new quantities, by subtracting others, by multiplication and division of the whole.

1885.  Watson & Burbury, Math. Th. Electr. & Magn., I. 155. We now proceed to transform this problem.

  d.  Physics. To change (one form of energy) into another, as mechanical energy into electricity, or electric energy into light or heat.

1871.  Maxwell, Theory of Heat (1875), 92. The total energy of any body or system of bodies is a quantity which can neither be increased nor diminished by any mutual action of those bodies, though it may be transformed into any of the forms of which energy is susceptible.

1878.  W. Garnett, in Encycl. Brit., VIII. 208/2. All other forms of energy with which we are acquainted can be transformed into an equivalent amount of heat.

1902.  J. Larmor, ibid., XXVIII. 164/2. There is a certain measurable quantity associated with each type of physical action … numerically identical with a corresponding quantity belonging to the new type into which it is transformed.

  e.  Electr. To change a current in potential, as from high voltage to low voltage, or in type, as from alternating to continuous. Transform up, to raise the voltage while decreasing the current. Transform down, to lower the voltage while increasing the current.

1883.  trans. Hospitalier, Mod. Applications of Electr. (ed. 2), I. 142. All these apparatus have a common character; they receive electricity and give out electricity, which they transform according to their individual properties.

1888.  S. P. Thompson, Dynamo-electr. Mach., 486. At the generating station the alternating currents of low potential were to be transformed by means of an induction-coil to currents of high potential.

1897.  Sloane, Stand. Electr. Dict. (1902), 547. Such dynamo could transform currents up or down.

1902.  S. P. Thompson, Electr. & Magnet., 502. To transform continuous currents from one voltage to another it is necessary to employ a rotating apparatus, which is virtually a combination of a motor and a generator.

  2.  intr. To undergo a change of form or nature; to change. Now rare.

1597.  Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 68. Then did this iolly feast, to fast transforme.

1667.  E. King, in Phil. Trans., II. 427. The Film does onely cover the Maggot, while she is transforming into an Ant.

1717.  Addison, trans. Ovid, Transf. Cycnus, 11. His hair transforms to down, his fingers meet In skinny films, and shape his oary feet.

1747.  Gould, Eng. Ants, 52. The Female Aurelia’s are generally the first which transform, and are those that make their Appearance in the Shape of large Flies.

1827.  Hood, Mids. Fairies lxxxiii.