Definify.com
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)
- 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
to goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite
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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