n. [ L. institutum: cf. F. institut. See Institute, v. t. & a. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of instituting; institution. [ Obs. ] “Water sanctified by Christ's institute.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is instituted, established, or fixed, as a law, habit, or custom. Glover. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence: An elementary and necessary principle; a precept, maxim, or rule, recognized as established and authoritative; usually in the plural, a collection of such principles and precepts; esp., a comprehensive summary of legal principles and decisions; as, the Institutes of Justinian; Coke's Institutes of the Laws of England. Cf. Digest, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

They made a sort of institute and digest of anarchy. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

To make the Stoics' institutes thy own. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An institution; a society established for the promotion of learning, art, science, etc.; a college; as, the Institute of Technology; The Massachusetts Institute of Technology; also, a building owned or occupied by such an institute; as, the Cooper Institute. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Scots Law) The person to whom an estate is first given by destination or limitation. Tomlins. [ 1913 Webster ]

Institutes of medicine, theoretical medicine; that department of medical science which attempts to account philosophically for the various phenomena of health as well as of disease; physiology applied to the practice of medicine. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. a. [ L. institutus, p. p. of instituere to place in, to institute, to instruct; pref. in- in + statuere to cause to stand, to set. See Statute. ] Established; organized; founded. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They have but few laws. For to a people so instruct and institute, very few to suffice. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Instituted p. pr. & vb. n. Instituting. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To set up; to establish; to ordain; as, to institute laws, rules, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To originate and establish; to found; to organize; as, to institute a court, or a society. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whenever any from of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government. Jefferson (Decl. of Indep. ). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To nominate; to appoint. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We institute your Grace
To be our regent in these parts of France. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To begin; to commence; to set on foot; as, to institute an inquiry; to institute a suit. [ 1913 Webster ]

And haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To ground or establish in principles and rudiments; to educate; to instruct. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If children were early instituted, knowledge would insensibly insinuate itself. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Eccl. Law) To invest with the spiritual charge of a benefice, or the care of souls. Blackstone.

Syn. -- To originate; begin; commence; establish; found; erect; organize; appoint; ordain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An institutor. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. institutio: cf. F. institution. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act or process of instituting; as: (a) Establishment; foundation; enactment; as, the institution of a school. [ 1913 Webster ]

The institution of God's law is described as being established by solemn injunction. Hooker.

(b) Instruction; education. [ Obs. ] Bentley. (c) (Eccl. Law) The act or ceremony of investing a clergyman with the spiritual part of a benefice, by which the care of souls is committed to his charge. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which instituted or established; as: (a) Established order, method, or custom; enactment; ordinance; permanent form of law or polity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The nature of our people,
Our city's institutions. Shak.

(b) An established or organized society or corporation; an establishment, especially of a public character, or affecting a community; a foundation; as, a literary institution; a charitable institution; also, a building or the buildings occupied or used by such organization; as, the Smithsonian Institution. (c) Anything forming a characteristic and persistent feature in social or national life or habits. [ 1913 Webster ]

We ordered a lunch (the most delightful of English institutions, next to dinner) to be ready against our return. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which institutes or instructs; a textbook; a system of elements or rules; an institute. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There is another manuscript, of above three hundred years old, . . . being an institution of physic. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Pertaining to, or treating of, an institution or institutions; as, institutional legends. [ 1913 Webster ]

Institutional writers as Rousseau. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Instituted by authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Elementary; rudimental. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Relating to an institution, or institutions. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Containing the first principles or doctrines; elemental; rudimentary. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A writer or compiler of, or a commentator on, institutes. [ R. ] Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Tending or intended to institute; having the power to establish. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Established; depending on, or characterized by, institution or order. “Institutive decency.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In conformity with an institution. Harrington. [ 1913 Webster ]