formula Copy link Outline 1. formŭla2. actio (used of the f. by which an action was entered)3. carmen, ĭnis, n. (laws and prayers being anciently composed in verse)4. verba, ōrum1. 5. praefātio (preliminary or inaugural)6. perscriptio (a written form) • formula: i. e. a form of words: 1. formŭla: most gen. term: there are formulae drawn up on all points, sunt f. de omnibus rebus constitutae, Cic. R. Com. 8, 24: formulae of wills, f. testamentorum, Cic. de Or. 1, 39, extr.: to make a demand of the praetor according to the legal f., a praetore ex f. postulare, Cic. Quint. 8, 30. 2. actio (used of the f. by which an action was entered): the formulae of action being first published by Cn. Flavius, expositis a Cn. Flavio primum a., Cic. de Or. 1, 41, 186: more was claimed of him (he said) than was stated in the f. of action, plus secum agi, quam in a. esset, Cic. de Or. 1, 37, extr.: to name the f. of action, a. edere, Ulp. Other formulae appertaining to actions were praescriptio, exceptio, replicatio, v. Dict. Ant. s. v. action. 3. carmen, ĭnis, n. (laws and prayers being anciently composed in verse): that the praetor might not have to say something of his own suggestion, a f. was composed for him likewise, praetor ne aliquid ipse ex se loqueretur, ei quoque c. compositum est, Cic.: to go through the preliminary f., praefari carmen, Liv. 5, 41: formulae for inflicting torture, cruciatus c., Cic. Rab. perd. 4, 13. 4. verba, ōrum: prescribe the f. according to which I am to devote myself, praei v. quibus me devoveam, Liv. 8, 9; to draw up the f. (of an oath), v. (jurisjurandi) concipere, Liv. 7, 5: the pronouncing of a prescribed f., nuncupatio sollennium v., Val. Max. 5, 10, 1. 5. praefātio (preliminary or inaugural): the f. of donation, p. donationis, Cic. Verr. 3, 80, 187: the f. of sacred rites, p. sacrorum, Liv. 45, 5. 6. perscriptio (a written form): cf. Cic. Fam. 5, 2, 2.