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instill - 6 dictionary results

in⋅still

  [in-stil]
Use instill in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to infuse slowly or gradually into the mind or feelings; insinuate; inject: to instill courtesy in a child.
2. to put in drop by drop.
Origin:
1525–35; < L instillāre, equiv. to in- in- 2 + stillāre to drip; see distill

Related forms:
in⋅still⋅er, noun
in⋅still⋅ment, noun

Synonyms:
1. inculcate, introduce.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To instill
in·still also in·stil   (ĭn-stĭl')   
tr.v.   in·stilled, in·still·ing, in·stills also in·stils
  1. To introduce by gradual, persistent efforts; implant: "Morality . . . may be instilled into their minds" (Thomas Jefferson).
  2. To pour in (medicine, for example) drop by drop.

[Middle English instillen, from Latin īnstīllāre : in-, into; see in-2 + stīllāre, to drip, drop (from stīlla, drop).]
in'stil·la'tion (ĭn'stə-lā'shən) n., in·still'er n., in·still'ment 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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Instill

In*still"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Instilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Instilling.] [L. instillare, instillatum; pref. in- in + stillare to drop, fr. stilla a drop: cf. F. instiller. See Distill.] [Written also instil.] To drop in; to pour in drop by drop; hence, to impart gradually; to infuse slowly; to cause to be imbibed.

That starlight dews All silently their tears of love instill. --Byron.

How hast thou instilled Thy malice into thousands. --Milton.

Syn: To infuse; impart; inspire; implant; inculcate; insinuate.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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instill 
1533, "to introduce (feelings, etc.) little by little," from L. instillare "put in by drops," from instillare "to drop, trickle," in- "in" + stilla "a drop." (see distill).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: in·still
Pronunciation: in-'stil
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: in·stilled; in·still·ing
: to cause to enter especially drop by drop <instill medication into the infected eye>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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instill in·still (ĭn-stĭl')
v. in·stilled, in·still·ing, in·stills
To pour in drop by drop.

in'stil·la'tion (ĭn'stə-lā'shən) n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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