shape (shāp), transitive verb [imperfect Shaped (shāpt); past participle Shaped or Shapen (shāp′’n); present participle or verbal noun Shaping.] [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, noun]

1. To form or create; especially, to mold or make into a particular form; to give proper form or figure to.

I was shapen in iniquity. Ps. li. 5.

Grace shaped her limbs, and beauty decked her face. Prior.

2. To adapt to a purpose; to regulate; to adjust; to direct; as, to shape the course of a vessel.

To the stream, when neither friends, nor force,
Nor speed nor art avail, he shapes his course. Denham.

Charmed by their eyes, their manners I acquire,
And shape my foolishness to their desire. Prior.

3. To imagine; to conceive; to call forth (ideas). [archaic]

Oft my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not. Shak.

4. To design; to prepare; to plan; to arrange.

When shapen was all this conspiracy,
From point to point. Chaucer.

Shaping machine (Mach.) Same as Shaper

To shape one’s self: to prepare; to make ready. [Obs.]

I will early shape me therefor. Chaucer.

Shape, intransitive verb To suit; to be adjusted or conformable. [R.] Shak.Shape, noun [OE. shap, schap, AS. sceap in gesceap creation, creature, fr. the root of scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, to shape, to do, to effect; akin to OS. giskeppian, OFries. skeppa, D. scheppen, G. schaffen, OHG. scaffan, scepfen, skeffen, Icer. skapa, skepja, Dan. skabe, skaffe, Sw. skapa, skaffa, Goth. gaskapjan, and perhaps to E. shave, v. Cf. -ship.]

1. Character or construction of a thing as determining its external appearance; outward aspect; make; figure; form; guise; as, the shape of a tree; the shape of the head; an elegant shape.

He beat me grievously, in the shape of a woman. Shak.

2. That which has form or figure; a figure; an appearance; a being.

Before the gates three sat,

On either side, a formidable shape. Milton.

3. A model; a pattern; a mold.

4. Form of embodiment, as in words; form, as of thought or conception; concrete embodiment or example, as of some quality. Milton.

5. Dress for disguise; guise. [Obs.]

Look better on this virgin, and consider
This Persian shape laid by, and she appearing
In a Greekish dress. Messinger.

6. (Iron Manuf.)

(a) A rolled or hammered piece, as a bar, beam, angle iron, etc., having a cross section different from merchant bar.

(b) A piece which has been roughly forged nearly to the form it will receive when completely forged or fitted.

To take shape: to assume a definite form.

-- Websters 1913