Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for DE-FORM'I-TY
DE-FORM'I-TY, n. [L. deformitas.]
- Any unnatural state of the shape or form; want of that uniformity or symmetry which constitutes beauty; distortion; irregularity of shape or features; disproportion of limbs; defect; crookedness, &c. Hence, ugliness; as, bodily deformity.
- Any thing that destroys beauty, grace or propriety; irregularity; absurdity; gross deviation from order, or the established laws of propriety. Thus we speak of deformity in an edifice, or deformity of character.
Return to page 41 of the letter “D”.