Chapter Forisfamiliation to Formality of F by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

2. Destitute; helpless; in pitiful plight; wretched; miserable; almost hopeless; desperate.

For here forlorn and lost I tread.

Goldsmith.

The condition of the besieged in the mean time was forlorn in the extreme.

Prescott.

She cherished the forlorn hope that he was still living.

Thomson.

A forlorn hope[D. verloren hoop, prop., a lost band or troop; verloren, p. p. of verliezen to lose + hoop band; akin to E. heap. See For-, and Heap.] (Mil.), a body of men (called in F. enfants perdus, in G. verlornen posten) selected, usually from volunteers, to attempt a breach, scale the wall of a fortress, or perform other extraordinarily perilous service; also, a desperate case or enterprise.

Syn. — Destitute, lost; abandoned; forsaken; solitary; helpless; friendless; hopeless; abject; wretched; miserable; pitiable.

Forlorn
(For*lorn"), n.

1. A lost, forsaken, or solitary person.

Forced to live in Scotland a forlorn.

Shak.

2. A forlorn hope; a vanguard. [Obs.]

Our forlorn of horse marched within a mile of the enemy.

Oliver Cromvell.

Forlornly
(For*lorn"ly), adv. In a forlorn manner. Pollok.

Forlornness
(For*lorn"ness), n. State of being forlorn. Boyle.

Forlye
(For*lye") v. i. Same as Forlie. [Obs.]

- form
(-form) [See Form, n.] A suffix used to denote in the form or shape of, resembling, etc.; as, valiform; oviform.

Form
(Form) (form; in senses 8 & 9, often form in England), n. [OE. & F. forme, fr. L. forma; cf. Skr. dhariman. Cf. Firm.]

1. The shape and structure of anything, as distinguished from the material of which it is composed; particular disposition or arrangement of matter, giving it individuality or distinctive character; configuration; figure; external appearance.

The form of his visage was changed.

Dan. iii. 19.

And woven close close, both matter, form, and style.

Milton.

2. Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system; as, a republican form of government.

3. Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula; as, a form of prayer.

Those whom form of laws
Condemned to die.

Dryden.

4. Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality; as, a matter of mere form.

Though well we may not pass upon his life
Without the form of justice.

Shak.