Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Institute?

\In"sti*tute\, p. a. [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\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Instituted}; 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. --Shak. 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. --Shak. 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. 6. (Eccl. Law) To invest with the spiritual charge of a benefice, or the care of souls. --Blackstone. Syn: To originate; begin; commence; establish; found; erect; organize; appoint; ordain.
\In"sti*tute\, n. [L. institutum: cf. F. institut. See {Institute}, v. t. & a.] 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}, n. 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; 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.