Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Shape

Shape

(shāp)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp.
Shaped
(shāpt)
;
p. p.
Shaped
or
Shapen
(shāp′’n)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Shaping
.]
[OE.
shapen
,
schapen
, AS.
sceapian
. The p. p.
shapen
is from the strong verb, AS.
scieppan
,
scyppan
,
sceppan
, p. p.
sceapen
. See
Shape
,
Noun.
]
1.
To form or create; especially, to mold or make into a particular form; to give proper form or figure to.
I was
shapen
in iniquity.
Ps. li. 5.
Grace
shaped
her limbs, and beauty decked her face.
Prior.
2.
To adapt to a purpose; to regulate; to adjust; to direct;
as, to
shape
the course of a vessel
.
To the stream, when neither friends, nor force,
Nor speed nor art avail, he
shapes
his course.
Denham.
Charmed by their eyes, their manners I acquire,
And
shape
my foolishness to their desire.
Prior.
3.
To imagine; to conceive; to call forth (ideas).
[archaic]
Oft my jealousy
Shapes
faults that are not.
Shakespeare
4.
To design; to prepare; to plan; to arrange.
When
shapen
was all this conspiracy,
From point to point.
Chaucer.
Shaping machine
.
(Mach.)
Same as
Shaper
.
–
To shape one’s self
,
to prepare; to make ready.
[Obs.]
I will early
shape me
therefor.
Chaucer.

Shape

,
Verb.
I.
To suit; to be adjusted or conformable.
[R.]
Shak.

Shape

,
Noun.
[OE.
shap
,
schap
, AS.
sceap
in
gesceap
creation, creature, fr. the root of
scieppan
,
scyppan
,
sceppan
, to shape, to do, to effect; akin to OS. gi
skeppian
, OFries.
skeppa
, D.
scheppen
, G.
schaffen
, OHG.
scaffan
,
scepfen
,
skeffen
, Icer.
skapa
,
skepja
, Dan.
skabe
,
skaffe
, Sw.
skapa
,
skaffa
, Goth. ga
skapjan
, and perhaps to E.
shave
, v. Cf.
-ship
.]
1.
Character or construction of a thing as determining its external appearance; outward aspect; make; figure; form; guise;
as, the
shape
of a tree; the
shape
of the head; an elegant
shape
.
He beat me grievously, in the
shape
of a woman.
Shakespeare
2.
That which has form or figure; a figure; an appearance; a being.
Before the gates three sat,
On either side, a formidable
shape
.
Milton.
3.
A model; a pattern; a mold.
4.
Form of embodiment, as in words; form, as of thought or conception; concrete embodiment or example, as of some quality.
Milton.
5.
Dress for disguise; guise.
[Obs.]
Look better on this virgin, and consider
This Persian
shape
laid by, and she appearing
In a Greekish dress.
Messinger.
6.
(Iron Manuf.)
(a)
A rolled or hammered piece, as a bar, beam, angle iron, etc., having a cross section different from merchant bar.
(b)
A piece which has been roughly forged nearly to the form it will receive when completely forged or fitted.
To take shape
,
to assume a definite form.

Webster 1828 Edition

Shape

SHAPE

,
Verb.
T.
pret. shaped; pp. shaped or shapen.
1. To form or create.
I was shapen in iniquity. Ps. 51.
2. To mold or make into a particular form; to give form or figure to; as, to shape a garment.
Grace shap'd her limbs, and beauty deck'd her face. Prior.
3. To mold; to cast; to regulate; to adjust; to adapt to a purpose. He shapes his plans or designs to the temper of the times.
4. To direct; as, to shape a course.
5. To image; to conceive.
Oft my jealousy

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