Quick Definition
μορφή, ῆς, ἡ n.f. form, shape, outward appearance
Strong's Definition
perhaps from the base of 3313 (through the idea of adjustment of parts); shape; figuratively, nature
KJV Usage: form
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ῆς | μορφόω
58.2 · Nature, Class, Example · Nature, Character
nature, character the nature or character of something, with emphasis upon both the internal and external form In view of the lack of a closely corresponding lexical item such as ‘nature,’ it may be necessary to restructure the form of PHP 2:7 as ‘he became truly a servant.’
58.15 · Nature, Class, Example · Appearance as an Outward Manifestation of Form
visual form, appearance a visual form of something
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μορφή, -ῆς, 7, [fr. root signifying ‘to lay hold of’, ‘ seize” (cf. Germ. Fassung); Fick, Pt.i.p.174; Vanicek p. 719], fr. Hom. down, the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision ; the external appearance: children are said to reflect ψυχῆς τε καὶ μορφῆς ὁμοιότητα (of their parents), 4 Mace. xv. 3 (4); ἐφανερώθη ἐν ἑτέρᾳ μορφῇ. Mk. xvi. 12; ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων, Phil. ii. 6; μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ibid. 7;— this whole passage (as I have shown more fully in the Zeitschr. f. wissensch. Theol. for 1873, p. 33 sqq-, with which compare the different view given by Holsten in the Jahrbb. f. protest. Theol. for 1875, p. 449 sqq-) is to be explained as follows: who, although (formerly when he was λόγος ἄσαρκος) he bore the form (in which he appeared to the inhabitants of heaven) of God (the sovereign, opp. to pop. SovAov), yet did not think that this equality with God was to be eagerly clung to or retained (see ἁρπαγμός, 2), but emptied himself of it (see κενόω, 1) so as to assume the form of a servant, in that he became like unto men (for angels also are δοῦλοι τοῦ θεοῦ, Rev. xix. 10; xxii. 8 sq.) and was found in fashion asa man. (God μένει ἀεὶ ἁπλῶς ἐν τῇ αὐτοῦ μορφῇ, Plat. de rep. 2 p. 381 ¢., and it is denied that God φαντάζεσθαι ἄλλοτε ἐν ἄλλαις ἰδέαις .. . καὶ ἀλλάττοντα τὸ αὐτοῦ εἶδος εἰς πολλὰς μορφὰς .. . καὶ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ ἰδέας ἐκβαίνειν, p. 880 d.; ἥκιστ᾽ ἂν πολλὰς μορφὰς ἴσχοι ὁ θεός, p. 351 Ῥ.; ἑνὸς σώματος οὐσίαν μετασχηματίζειν καὶ μεταχαράττειν εἰς πολυτρόπους μορφάς, Philo leg. ad Gaium § 11; οὐ γὰρ ὥσπερ τὸ νόμισμα παράκομμα καὶ θεοῦ μορφὴ γίνεται, ibid. § 14 fin.; God ἔργοις μὲν καὶ χάρισιν ἐναργὴς καὶ παντὸς οὑτινοσοῦν φανερώτερος, μορφὴν δὲ καὶ μέγεθος ἡμῖν apave στατος; Joseph. c. Ap. 2, 22, 2.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μορφή morphē 3x
form, outward appearance, Mk. 16:12; Phil. 2:6, 7*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
μορφή, -ῆς, ἡ,
[in LXX: Jg 8:18 A (תֹּאַר), Jb 4:16 (תְּמוּנָה), Is 44:13 (תַּבְנִית), Da LXX 3:19 (צְלֵם), Da TH 4:33 5:6, 9, 10 7:28 (זִיו), To 1:13, Wi 18:1, IV Mac 15:4*;]
form, shape, appearance (Hom., Eur., Æsch., al.); in philos. lang. the specific character or essential form (Arist., v. Gifford, Inc., 26 ff.): Mk 16:[12], Phl 2:6, 7.†
SYN.: μόρφωσις, the outline, delineation, semblance of the μορφή, as distinct from the μ. itself (Lft., Notes, 262); σχῆμα, shape, fashion, disting. from μορφή as the outward and accidental from the inward and essential (cf. Tr., Syn., § LXX; Lft., Phl., 125 ff.; Gifford., Inc., 126 ff.).
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μορφή, μονόφθαλμος is an Ionic compound (Herod. iii. 116 a/.) condemned by the Atticists (Lob. Phryn. p. 136), but revived in the later vernacular (cf. Mt 18%, Mk 987). According to Ammonius it is to be distinguished from ἑτερόφθαλμος : ἑτερόφθαλμος μὲν γὰρ ὁ κατὰ περίπτωσιν πηρωθεὶς τὸν ἕτερον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν, μονόφθαλμος δὲ ὁ ἕνα μόνον ὀφθαλμὸν ἔχων ὡς ὁ Κύκλωψ (cited by Rutherford WP, Ρ- 209 f.).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
μορφή (morphē) — form. μορφ-ή, ἡ, form, shape, twice in [Refs 8th c.BC+] thou hast comeliness of words, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; so probably ἄλλος μὲν.. εἶδος ἀκιδνότερος πέλει ἀνήρ, ἀλλὰ θεὸς μορφὴν ἔπεσι στέφει God adds a crown of shapeliness to his words, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μορφῆς μέτρα shape and size, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μορφῆς σχῆμα, τύπωμα, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὀνειράτων ἀλίγκιοι μορφαῖσιν[Refs 5th c.BC+]; of plants, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; especially with reference to beauty of form, ὑπέρφατον μορφᾷ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἷς ποτιστάξῃ χάρις εὐκλέα μ.[Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. generally, form, fashion, appearance, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; outward form, opposed to εἶδος, ἑκατέρω τῶ εἴδεος πολλαὶ μ. [NT+5th c.BC+]; κατά τε μορφὰς καὶ φωνάς gesticulations and cries, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; τὴν μ. μελάγχρους, τῇ μ. μελίχροας, in complexion, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
3. kind, sort, [Refs 5th c.BC+] (Possibly cognate with Latin forma for morg[uglide]hmā, with f by dissimilation, compare μύρμηξ.)