English → Latin
“formation” in Latin
cōnfōrmātiōconformation, shape, form; figure of speechfigūrashape, form, figure; shape; taunt, quip, jibespeciēsseeing, view, look; spectacle, sight; external appearance, looks; general outline or shapefōrmaform; figure, shape, appearance; fine form; beauty; outline, plan, designvōxvoice; accent; speech, remark, expression, (turn of) phrasecolōto cultivate the land, till, tend, take care of a field or garden; to inhabit; to frequent, be the guardian of, cherish,ēducātiōthe act of breeding, rearing or bringing up; educationdisciplīnateaching, instruction, education; training; learning, knowledge, discipline, science, studyīnstitūtiōdisposition, arrangement; custom, manner; instruction, educationlīneāmentuma mark, line, stroke; features, lineaments; drawings, designs, delineations
The English word formation itself goes back to Latin fōrmō, through fōrmātiō.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
formation
conformatio (e.g., lineamentorum; of words, verborum or vocum): figura: species: forma (form). (The words are found in this connection and order.) conformatio et figura (e.g., of the whole face or body, totius oris et corporis): ☞ formatio rare; Vitr., of a sketch, etc. The formation of words, fictio nominum, vocum.
With reference to the character, etc., cultus: educatio: disciplina (by education and instruction): institutio (in a particular department): ☞ formatio morum, post-classical, Sen.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for formation?
- The usual Latin words for “formation” are cōnfōrmātiō, figūra, speciēs; also fōrma, vōx, colō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.