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Webster 1913 Edition


Instigate

In′sti-gate

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Instigated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Instigating
.]
[L.
instigatus
, p. p. of
instigare
to instigate; pref.
in-
in + a root akin to G.
stechen
to prick, E.
stick
. See
Stick
.]
To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite; – used chiefly with reference to evil actions;
as, to
instigate
one to a crime
.
Syn. – To stimulate; urge; spur; provoke; tempt; incite; impel; encourage; animate.

Webster 1828 Edition


Instigate

IN'STIGATE

, v.t.[L. instigo; in and stigo, inusit; Gr. to prick.]
To incite; to set on; to provoke; to urge; used chiefly or wholly in an ill sense; as, to instigate one to evil; to instigate to a crime.

Definition 2024


instigate

instigate

English

Verb

instigate (third-person singular simple present instigates, present participle instigating, simple past and past participle instigated)

  1. To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite.
    He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity. -Bp. Warburton.

Usage notes

Commonly used with reference to evil actions; as, to instigate one to a crime.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Derived terms

External links

  • instigate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • instigate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Esperanto

Adverb

instigate

  1. present adverbial passive participle of instigi

Latin

Verb

instīgāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of instīgō