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Webster 1913 Edition

Institute

In′sti-tute

(ĭn′stĭ-tūt)
,
p.
Adj.
[L.
institutus
, p. p. of
instituere
to place in, to institute, to instruct; pref.
in-
in +
statuere
to cause to stand, to set. See
Statute
.]
Established; organized; founded.
[Obs.]
They have but few laws. For to a people so instruct and
institute
, very few to suffice.
Robynson (More’s Utopia).

In′sti-tute

(ĭn′stĭ-tūt)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Instituted
(ĭn′stĭ-tūˊtĕd)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Instituting
.]
1.
To set up; to establish; to ordain;
as, to
institute
laws, rules, etc.
2.
To originate and establish; to found; to organize;
as, to
institute
a court, or a society
.
Whenever any from of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to
institute
a new government.
Jefferson (Decl. of Indep. ).
3.
To nominate; to appoint.
[Obs.]
We
institute
your Grace
To be our regent in these parts of France.
Shakespeare
4.
To begin; to commence; to set on foot;
as, to
institute
an inquiry; to
institute
a suit.
And haply
institute

A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Shakespeare
5.
To ground or establish in principles and rudiments; to educate; to instruct.
[Obs.]
If children were early
instituted
, knowledge would insensibly insinuate itself.
Dr. H. More.
Syn. – To originate; begin; commence; establish; found; erect; organize; appoint; ordain.

In′sti-tute

,
Noun.
[L.
institutum
: cf. F.
institut
. See
Institute
,
Verb.
T.
&
Adj.
]
1.
The act of instituting; institution.
[Obs.]
“Water sanctified by Christ's institute.”
Milton.
2.
That which is instituted, established, or fixed, as a law, habit, or custom.
Glover.
3.
Hence: An elementary and necessary principle; a precept, maxim, or rule, recognized as established and authoritative; usually in the plural, a collection of such principles and precepts; esp., a comprehensive summary of legal principles and decisions;
as, the
Institutes
of Justinian; Coke's
Institutes
of the Laws of England
. Cf.
Digest
,
Noun.
They made a sort of
institute
and digest of anarchy.
Burke.
To make the Stoics'
institutes
thy own.
Dryden.
4.
An institution; a society established for the promotion of learning, art, science, etc.; a college;
as, the
Institute
of Technology
; The Massachusetts
Institute
of Technology; also, a building owned or occupied by such an institute;
as, the Cooper
Institute
.
5.
(Scots Law)
The person to whom an estate is first given by destination or limitation.
Tomlins.
Institutes of medicine
,
theoretical medicine; that department of medical science which attempts to account philosophically for the various phenomena of health as well as of disease; physiology applied to the practice of medicine.
Dunglison.

Webster 1828 Edition

Institute

IN'STITUTE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. instituo; in and statuo,to set.]
1.
To establish; to appoint; to enact; to form and prescribe; as, to institute laws; to institute rules and regulations.
2.
To found; to originate and establish, as to institute a new order of nobility; to institute a court.
3.
To ground or establish in principles; to educate; to instruct; as, to institute children in the principles of a science.
4.
To begin; to commence; to set in operation; as, to institute an inquiry; to institute a suit.
5.
To invest with the spiritual part of a benefice or the care of souls.

IN'STITUTE

,
Noun.
[L. institutum.]
1.
Established law; settled order.
2.
Precept; maxim; principle.
To make the Stoic institutes thy own.
3.
A book of elements or principles; particularly, a work containing the principles of the Roman law.

Definition 2024

Institute

Institute

See also: institute

German

Noun

Institute f pl

  1. plural of Institut

institute

institute

See also: Institute

English

Noun

institute ‎(plural institutes)

  1. An organization founded to promote a cause
    I work in a medical research institute.
  2. An institution of learning; a college, especially for technical subjects
  3. The building housing such an institution
  4. (obsolete) The act of instituting; institution.
    • Milton
      water sanctified by Christ's institute
  5. (obsolete) That which is instituted, established, or fixed, such as a law, habit, or custom.
    • Burke
      They made a sort of institute and digest of anarchy.
    • Dryden
      to make the Stoics' institutes thy own
  6. (law, Scotland) The person to whom an estate is first given by destination or limitation.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Tomlins to this entry?)
Derived terms
  • educational institute
  • research institute
  • academic institute
Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English, from Latin īnstitūtus, past participle of īnstituō ‎(“I set up, place upon, purpose, begin, institute”), from in ‎(“in, on”) + statuō ‎(“set up, establish”).

Verb

institute ‎(third-person singular simple present institutes, present participle instituting, simple past and past participle instituted)

  1. (transitive) To begin or initiate (something); to found.
    He instituted the new policy of having children walk through a metal detector to enter school.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare
      And haply institute / A course of learning and ingenious studies.
    • 1776, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence:
      Whenever any from of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government.
  2. (obsolete, transitive) To train, instruct.
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.27:
      Publius was the first that ever instituted the Souldier to manage his armes by dexteritie and skil, and joyned art unto vertue, not for the use of private contentions, but for the wars and Roman peoples quarrels.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Dr. H. More
      If children were early instituted, knowledge would insensibly insinuate itself.
  3. To nominate; to appoint.
    • William Shakespeare (c.1564–1616)
      We institute your Grace / To be our regent in these parts of France.
  4. (ecclesiastical, law) To invest with the spiritual charge of a benefice, or the care of souls.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Blackstone to this entry?)
Translations

Adjective

institute ‎(not comparable)

  1. (obsolete) Established; organized; founded.
    • Robynson (More's Utopia)
      They have but few laws. For to a people so instruct and institute, very few to suffice.

Related terms

Latin

Participle

institūte

  1. vocative masculine singular of institūtus

References

Etymology

From French institut, from Middle French, from Latin īnstitūtum.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɪnstɪt(j)uːt/

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