instigate

English

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

Etymology

From the Latin instigatus, past participle of instigare (“to instigate”), from prefix in- in + *stigare, akin to stinguere (“push, goad”). Akin to German stechen (“to prick”), English stick.

Pronunciation

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Verb

instigate (third-person singular simple present instigates, present participle instigating, simple past and past participle instigated)

1. To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite.

   He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity. -Bp. Warburton.

Usage notes

Commonly used with reference to evil actions; as, to instigate one to a crime.

Synonyms

• (to goad or urge forward): animate, encourage, impel, incite, provoke, spur, stimulate, tempt, urge

Antonyms

• (to goad or urge forward): halt, prevent, stop

Translations

To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite

Arabic: حرض (ar), دفع (ar) Dutch: aanstichten (nl) German: anstiften (de)

Hungarian: felbujt (hu), provokál (hu) Russian: подбивать, подговаривать

Derived terms

• instigation
• instigator

External links

• instigate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• instigate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

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Esperanto

Adverb

instigate

1. present adverbial passive participle of instigi

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Latin

Verb

instīgāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of instīgō