instigate

  • 1instigate — 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

  • 2Instigate — 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… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3instigate — index abet, agitate (activate), bait (harass), evoke, exhort, foment, impel …

    Law dictionary

  • 4instigate — [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

  • 5instigate — ► 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

  • 6instigate — (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

  • 7instigate — *incite, abet, foment Analogous words: *activate, actuate, motivate: *suggest, hint, insinuate: plan, plot, scheme (see under PLAN n) …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 8instigate — [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

  • 9instigate — 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

  • 10instigate — v. (esp. BE) (H) to instigate smb. to do smt. * * * [ ɪnstɪgeɪt] (esp. BE) (H) to instigate smb. to do smt …

    Combinatory dictionary