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Webster 1913 Edition

Verb.

[

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

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.

, 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.