Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHAPE, v.t. [pret. shaped; pp. shaped or shapen. Sax. sceapian, sceppan, scipan or scyppan, to form, to create; Sw. skapa; Dan. skaber; C. schaffen, to ereate, to make or get, to procure, furnish or supply; D. scheppen, schaffen; San. shafana. The Sw. has skaffa, to provide, and the Dan. skaffer.]

1. To form or create. I was shapen in iniquity. – Ps. li.
2. To mold or make into a particular form; to give form or figure to; as, to shape a garment. Grace shaped 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. – Denham.
5. To image; conceive. Oft my jealousy / Shapes faults that are not. – Shak.