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Origin and history of transform

transform(v.)

late 14c., transformen, "alter or change the form of supernaturally" (transitive), also generally "change the condition of; cause to take the form of" (with into); from Old French transformer (14c.), from Latin transformare "change in shape, metamorphose," from trans "across, beyond" (see trans-) + formare "to form" (see form (v.)).

By 1550s as "change the nature, character, or disposition of." The intransitive sense "undergo a change of form" is from 1590s in English. Related: Transformed; transforming.

transform

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to transform

form(v.)

c. 1300, formen, fourmen, "create, give life to, give shape or structure to; make, build, construct, devise," from Old French fourmer "formulate, express; draft, create, shape, mold" (12c.) and directly from Latin formare "to shape, fashion, build," also figurative, from forma "form, contour, figure, shape" (see form (n.)). From late 14c. as "go to make up, be a constituent part of;" intransitive sense "take form, come into form" is from 1722. Related: Formed; forming.

transformation(n.)

c. 1400, transformacioun, "change of form, nature, or appearance," especially "supernatural alteration in semblance or form," from Old French transformation, transformacion, and directly from Church Latin transformationem (nominative transformatio) "change of shape," noun of action from past-participle stem of transformare "change in shape, metamorphose" (see transform). Alternative transformance (1610s) is obsolete.

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translate
early 14c., "to remove from one place to another," also "to turn from one language to another," from Old French translater and directly from Latin translatus "carried over," serving as past participle of transferre "to bring over, carry over" (see transfer), from trans "across, b
transmogrify
"change completely, transform into some other person or thing as if by magic," 1650s, a word of unknown origin....Century Dictionary describes its usage as "humorous and contemptuous" and suggests it might be based on transform....
convert
one religion to another," especially to Christianity, from Old French convertir "to turn around, turn towards; change, transform...; convert, win over," from Vulgar Latin *convertire, from Latin convertere "turn around, transform," from assimilated form...
vary
(intransitive), from Old French variier "be changed, go astray; change, alter, transform" and directly from Latin variare...
disfigure
late 14c., "mar the external figure of, impair the beauty, symmetry, or excellence of," also "transform the appearance of...
anamorphosis
particular angle or with a certain mirror), 1727, from Greek anamorphōsis "transformation," noun of action from anamorphoein "to transform...
adverse
past participle of advertere "to turn toward," from ad "to" (see ad-) + vertere "to turn, turn back; be turned; convert, transform...
change
c. 1200, "to alter, make different, change" (transitive); early 13c. as "to substitute one for another;" mid-13c. as "to make (something) other than what it was, cause to turn or pass from one state to another;" from late 13c. as "to become different, be altered" (intransitive),
modify
late 14c., modifien, "alter, amend, adjust, change the properties, form, or function of;" also "set limits, keep within the bounds of reason; choose a middle course," from Old French modifier (14c.), from Latin modificare "to limit, measure off, restrain," from modus "measure, ma
become
Middle English bicomen, from Old English becuman "happen, come about, befall," also "meet with, fall in with; arrive, approach, enter," from Proto-Germanic *bikweman (source also of Dutch bekomen, Old High German biqueman "obtain," German bekommen, Gothic biquiman). A compound of

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