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instigate

 - 2 dictionary results
Initiate Systems, Inc.
Official site for Initiate Systems, leader in master data management
www.Initiate.com

in⋅sti⋅gate

  [in-sti-geyt]
Use instigate in a Sentence
–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, stick 2 ) + -ātus -ate 1

Related forms:
in⋅sti⋅gat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
in⋅sti⋅ga⋅tive, adjective
in⋅sti⋅ga⋅tor, in⋅sti⋅gant  [in-sti-guhnt] , noun

Synonyms:
1. arouse, provoke. 2. induce, stimulate, encourage, push; initiate, start.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To instigate
Initiate Systems, Inc.
Official site for Initiate Systems, leader in master data management
www.Initiate.com
in·sti·gate   (ĭn'stĭ-gāt')   
tr.v.   in·sti·gat·ed, in·sti·gat·ing, in·sti·gates

  1. To urge on; goad.

  2. To stir up; foment.


[Latin īnstīgāre, īnstīgāt-; see steig- in Indo-European roots.]
in'sti·ga'tion n., in'sti·ga'tive adj., in'sti·ga'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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