Instigate

Instigate
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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • instigate — properly means ‘to bring about by excitement or persuasion, to foment or provoke’, and usually refers to an antisocial or discreditable action, such as violence, wars, revolts, riots, acts of terrorism, or political coups: • … a radical… …   Modern English usage

  • instigate — index abet, agitate (activate), bait (harass), evoke, exhort, foment, impel …   Law dictionary

  • instigate — [in′stə gāt΄] vt. instigated, instigating [< L instigatus, pp. of instigare, to stimulate, incite < in , IN 1 + stigare, to prick: for IE base see STICK] 1. to urge on, spur on, or incite to some action, esp. to some evil [to instigate… …   English World dictionary

  • instigate — ► VERB 1) bring about or initiate. 2) (instigate to/to do) incite (someone) to do. DERIVATIVES instigation noun instigator noun. ORIGIN Latin instigare urge, incite …   English terms dictionary

  • instigate — (v.) 1540s, back formation from instigation or else from L. instigatus, pp. of instigare to urge on, incite (see INSTIGATION (Cf. instigation)). Related: Instigated; instigates; instigating …   Etymology dictionary

  • instigate — *incite, abet, foment Analogous words: *activate, actuate, motivate: *suggest, hint, insinuate: plan, plot, scheme (see under PLAN n) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • instigate — [v] influence, provoke abet, actuate, add fuel, bring about, egg on*, encourage, fire up*, foment, goad, hint, impel, incite, inflame, initiate, insinuate, kindle, make waves*, move, needle*, persuade, plan, plot, prompt, put up to, rabble rouse* …   New thesaurus

  • instigate — instigatingly, adv. instigative, adj. instigator, instigant /in sti geuhnt/, n. /in sti gayt /, v.t., instigated, instigating. 1. to cause by incitement; foment: to instigate a quarrel. 2. to urge, provoke, or incite to some action or course: to… …   Universalium

  • instigate — v. (esp. BE) (H) to instigate smb. to do smt. * * * [ ɪnstɪgeɪt] (esp. BE) (H) to instigate smb. to do smt …   Combinatory dictionary

  • instigate — UK [ˈɪnstɪɡeɪt] / US [ˈɪnstɪˌɡeɪt] verb [transitive] Word forms instigate : present tense I/you/we/they instigate he/she/it instigates present participle instigating past tense instigated past participle instigated formal to make something start …   English dictionary

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