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Instigate
4 dictionary results for: Instigate
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
in·sti·gate 
[in-sti-geyt] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[in-sti-geyt] Pronunciation Key –verb (used with object), -gat·ed, -gat·ing.
| 1. | to cause by incitement; foment: to instigate a quarrel. |
| 2. | to urge, provoke, or incite to some action or course: to instigate the people to revolt. |
[Origin: 1535–45; < L instīgātus ptp. of instīgāre to goad on, impel, equiv. to in- in-2 + -stīg- goad, prick (akin to stigma, stick2) + -ātus -ate1]
] —Related forms
in·sti·gat·ing·ly, adverb
in·sti·ga·tive, adjective
—Synonyms 1. arouse, provoke. 2. induce, stimulate, encourage, push; initiate, start.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| in·sti·gate
(ĭn'stĭ-gāt') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. in·sti·gat·ed, in·sti·gat·ing, in·sti·gates
[Latin īnstīgāre, īnstīgāt-; see steig- in Indo-European roots.] in'sti·ga'tion n., in'sti·ga'tive adj., in'sti·ga'tor n. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| instigate | |
verb | |
| 1. | provoke or stir up; "incite a riot"; "set off great unrest among the people" [syn: incite] |
| 2. | serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my relatives" [syn: prompt] |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Instigate
In"sti*gate\, v. 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. He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity. --Bp. Warburton. Syn: To stimulate; urge; spur; provoke; tempt; incite; impel; encourage; animate.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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