Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Instance
1.
The act or quality of being instant or pressing; urgency; solicitation; application; suggestion; motion.
Undertook at her
instance
to restore them. Sir W. Scott.
2.
That which is instant or urgent; motive.
[Obs.]
The
Are base respects of thrift, but none of love.
instances
that second marriage moveAre base respects of thrift, but none of love.
Shakespeare
3.
Occasion; order of occurrence.
These seem as if, in the time of Edward I., they were drawn up into the form of a law, in the first
instance
. Sir M. Hale.
Most remarkable
instances
of suffering. Atterbury.
In′stance
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Instanced
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Instancing
.] To mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite;
as, to
. instance
a factH. Spenser.
I shall not
instance
an abstruse author. Milton.
In′stance
,Verb.
I.
To give an example.
[Obs.]
This story doth not only
instance
in kingdoms, but in families too. Jer. Taylor.
Webster 1828 Edition
Instance
IN'STANCE
,Noun.
Literally, a standing on. Hence,
1.
Urgency; a pressing; solicitation; importunity; application. The request was granted at the instance of the defendant's advocate.2.
Example; a case occurring; a case offered. Howard furnished a remarkable instance of disinterested benevolence. The world may never witness a second instance of the success of daring enterprise and usurpation, equal to that of Buonaparte. Suppose the earth should be removed nearer to the sun, and revolve, for instance,in the orbit of Mercury, the whole ocean would boil with heat.
The use of instances, is to illustrate and explain a difficulty.
3.
Time; occasion; occurrence. These seem as if, in the time of Edward I, they were drawn up into the form of a law, in the first instance.
4.
Motive; influence.5.
Process of a suit.Instance-court, a branch of the court of admiralty, in England, distinct from the prize-court.
IN'STANCE
,Verb.
I.
As to false citations--I shall instance in two or three.
IN'STANCE
,Verb.
T.