Part 300

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 image; to conceive; to body forth.

Oft my jealousy Shapes faults that are not.

Shak.

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 (shp), v. i. To suit; to be adjusted or conformable. [R.] Shak.

Shape, n. [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. giskeppian, OFries. skeppa, D. scheppen, G. schaffen, OHG. scaffan, scepfen, skeffen, Icer. skapa, skepja, Dan. skabe, skaffe, Sw. skapa, skaffa, Goth. gaskapjan, 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.

Shak.

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.