(kabuki, theater) Short for 女形 (onnagata)., a female role played by a male actor in kabuki theater

(affixed to nouns): the shape or form of the affixed noun / (affixed to on'yomi nouns): a typical example of the affixed noun; the type of the affixed noun

shape or form / shapeliness: see 形有り (katachiari) / form, as opposed to substance

(linguistics) grammatical tense / (Japanese grammar) a conjugation form of a verb

one's clothing and appearance / one's body shape or form / one's circumstances or situation / the shape or form of something

following the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of a verb, indicates the state of the affixed verb or phrase: compare English just as

shapes

(mathematics) geometrical

"Historical kana usage", a prescriptive method of using kana to write Japanese. Devised in the Edo period by Keichū (契沖) and taught in schools until 1946, it aims to be etymologically faithful and reflects earlier stages of the language (Heian period and earlier).

humanitarian