for in-stance
stəns noun
1.
a case or occurrence of anything: fresh instances of oppression.
2.
an example put forth in proof or illustration: to cite a few instances.
3.
Law. the institution and prosecution of a case.
4.
Archaic. urgency in speech or action.
5.
Obsolete. an impelling motive.
verb (used with object)
6.
to cite as an instance or example.
7.
to exemplify by an instance.
00:10
For in-stance
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
verb (used without object)
Idioms 8.
to cite an instance.
9.
at the instance of, at the urging or suggestion of: He applied for the assistantship at the instance of his professor.
10.
for instance, as an example; for example: If you were to go to Italy, for instance, you would get a different perspective on our culture.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To for in-stance
Collins
World English Dictionary
instance (ˈɪnstəns) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a case or particular example |
| 2. | for instance for or as an example |
| 3. | a specified stage in proceedings; step (in the phrases in the first, second, etc, instance) |
| 4. | urgent request or demand (esp in the phrase at the instance of) |
| 5. | logic |
| a. an expression derived from another by instantiation | |
| b. See substitution | |
| 6. | archaic motive or reason |
| —vb | |
| 7. | to cite as an example |
| [C14 (in the sense: case, example): from Medieval Latin instantia example, (in the sense: urgency) from Latin: a being close upon, presence, from instāns pressing upon, urgent; see | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
instance
mid-14c., "urgency," from O.Fr. instance "eagerness, anxiety, solicitation," from L. instantia "presence, earnestness, urgency," lit. "a standing near," from instans (see instant). In Scholastic logic, "a fact or example" (1580s), from M.L. instantia, used to translate Gk.
enstasis. This led to use in phrase for instance "as an example" (1650s), and the noun phrase To give (someone) a for instance (1959, Amer.Eng.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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