prep. [ OE. agens, ageynes, AS. ongegn. The s is adverbial, orig. a genitive ending. See Again. ] 1. Abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the mouth of a river; -- in this sense often preceded by over. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jacob saw the angels of God come against him. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats against the roof. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In opposition to, whether the opposition is of sentiment or of action; on the other side; counter to; in contrariety to; hence, adverse to; as, against reason; against law; to run a race against time. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gate would have been shut against her. Fielding. [ 1913 Webster ]

An argument against the use of steam. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. By of before the time that; in preparation for; so as to be ready for the time when. [ Archaic or Dial. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Urijah the priest made it, against King Ahaz came from Damascus. 2 Kings xvi. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

Against the sun, in a direction contrary to that in which the sun appears to move. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To withstand. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ n., or }. (a) [ More fully chenille Axminster. ] A variety of Turkey carpet, woven by machine or, when more than 27 inches wide, on a hand loom, and consisting of strips of worsted chenille so colored as to produce a pattern on a stout jute backing. It has a fine soft pile. So called from Axminster, England, where it was formerly (1755 -- 1835) made. (b) A similar but cheaper machine-made carpet, resembling moquette in construction and appearance, but finer and of better material. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

prop. n. [ From physicists S. N. Bose, and Albert Einstein. ] (Physics) A law of statistical mechanics which is obeyed by a system of particles when interchange of two particles does not change the wave function. Contrasted to Fermi-Dirac statistics. See also boson. [ PJC ]

n. the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation; a sudden brilliant insight.
Syn. -- insight, brainwave. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. & i. to try to solve a problem by discussing it exhaustively in an intense group meeting encouraging uninhibited and spontaneous contributions from all members.
Syn. -- practice brainstorming. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Happening at the same instant. C. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

prep. A contraction of Against. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Gainstood; p. pr. & vb. n. gainstanding. ] [ See Again, and Stand. ] To withstand; to resist. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Durst . . . gainstand the force of so many enraged desires. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ See Again, and Strive. ] To strive or struggle against; to withstand. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. [ abbreviation for instant. ] in or of the present month; same as instant{ 3 }, a. or instant{ 2 }, n.; as, your letter of the 10th inst.. [ abbr. ]
Syn. -- instant. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. Instabilities [ L. instabilitas: cf. F. instabilité. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or condition of being unstable; lack of stability, firmness, or steadiness; liability to give way or to fail; insecurity; precariousness; as, the instability of a building. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lack of determination of fixedness; inconstancy; fickleness; mutability; changeableness; as, instability of character, temper, custom, etc. Addison.

Syn. -- Inconstancy; fickleness; changeableness; wavering; unsteadiness; unstableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. instabilis: cf. F. instable. See In- not, and Stable, a., and cf. Unstable. ] Not stable; not standing fast or firm; unstable; prone to change or recede from a purpose; mutable; inconstant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Instability; unstableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Installed p. pr. & vb. n. Installing. ] [ F. installer, LL. installare, fr. pref. in- in + OHG. stal a place, stall, G. stall, akin to E. stall: cf. It. installare. See Stall. ] [ Written also instal. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To set in a seat; to give a place to; establish (one) in a place. [ 1913 Webster ]

She installed her guest hospitably by the fireside. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To place in an office, rank, or order; to invest with any charge by the usual ceremonies; to instate; to induct; as, to install an ordained minister as pastor of a church; to install a college president. [ 1913 Webster ]

Unworthily
Thou wast installed in that high degree. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. installation, LL. installatio: cf. It. installazione. See Install. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of installing; as, the installation of the air conditioner took half an hour.
Syn. -- installing, setting up. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. Hence: the act of installing (a person) or giving possession of an office, rank, or order, with the usual rites or ceremonies; as, the installation of an ordained minister in a parish. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the election, the bishop gives a mandate for his installation. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mech.) The whole of a system of machines, apparatus, and accessories, sometimes including the buildings and gorounds on which they are located, when set up and arranged for practical working, as in electric lighting, transmission of power, etc.; as, our installation in Baton Rouge can produce ten thousand gallons a day; we should move our drying installation from building A to building B. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

4. (Mil.) The whole of a military base, post, camp, outpost, etc., constructed and operated for support of military operations. [ PJC ]

n. 1. the act of installing something (as equipment).
Syn. -- installation, setting up. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The act of installing; installation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Take oaths from all kings and magistrates at their installment, to do impartial justice by law. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The seat in which one is placed. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The several chairs of order, look, you scour; . . .
Each fair installment, coat, and several crest
With loyal blazon, evermore be blest. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A portion of a debt, or sum of money, which is divided into portions that are made payable at different times; that portion of a debt payed back in any one payment; as, the next installment is due January first. Payment by installment is payment by parts at different times, the amounts and times being often definitely stipulated. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

4. a part of a broadcast serial. [ wns=1 ]
Syn. -- episode. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

5. a part of a published serial. [ wns=2 ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. See Enstamp. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. instance, L. instantia, fr. instans. See Instant. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act or quality of being instant or pressing; urgency; solicitation; application; suggestion; motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Undertook at her instance to restore them. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is instant or urgent; motive. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The instances that second marriage move
Are base respects of thrift, but none of love. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Occasion; order of occurrence. [ 1913 Webster ]

These seem as if, in the time of Edward I., they were drawn up into the form of a law, in the first instance. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which offers itself or is offered as an illustrative case; something cited in proof or exemplification; a case occurring; an example; as, we could find no instance of poisoning in the town within the past year. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Most remarkable instances of suffering. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A token; a sign; a symptom or indication. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Causes of instance, those which proceed at the solicitation of some party. Hallifax. --
Court of first instance, the court by which a case is first tried. --
For instance, by way of example or illustration; for example. --
Instance Court (Law), the Court of Admiralty acting within its ordinary jurisdiction, as distinguished from its action as a prize court.

Syn. -- Example; case. See Example. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Instanced p. pr. & vb. n. Instancing ] To mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite; as, to instance a fact. H. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall not instance an abstruse author. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To give an example. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This story doth not only instance in kingdoms, but in families too. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Instance; urgency. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Those heavenly precepts which our Lord and Savior with so great instancy gave. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. instans, -antis, p. pr. of instare to stand upon, to press upon; pref. in- in, on + stare to stand: cf. F. instant. See Stand. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Rom. xii. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am beginning to be very instant for some sort of occupation. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Closely pressing or impending in respect to time; not deferred; immediate; without delay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Impending death is thine, and instant doom. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Present; current. [ 1913 Webster ]

The instant time is always the fittest time. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The word in this sense is now used only in dates, to indicate the current month; as, the tenth of July instant. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Instantly. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Instant he flew with hospitable haste. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. instant, fr. L. instans standing by, being near, present. See Instant, a. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A point in time; a moment; a portion of time too short to be estimated; also, any particular moment; as, the situation may change in an instant. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

There is scarce an instant between their flourishing and their not being. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A day of the present or current month; as, the sixth instant; -- an elliptical expression equivalent to the sixth of the month instant, i. e., the current month. See Instant, a., 3.

Syn. -- Moment; flash; second. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. instantanéité. ] Quality of being instantaneous. Shenstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. instantané. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Done or occurring in an instant, or without any perceptible duration of time; as, the passage of electricity appears to be instantaneous. [ 1913 Webster ]

His reason saw
With instantaneous view, the truth of things. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. At or during a given instant; as, instantaneous acceleration, velocity, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Instantaneous center of rotation (Kinematics), in a plane or in a plane figure which has motions both of translation and of rotation in the plane, is the point which for the instant is at rest. --
Instantaneous axis of rotation (Kinematics), in a body which has motions both of translation and rotation, is a line, which is supposed to be rigidly united with the body, and which for the instant is at rest. The motion of the body is for the instant simply that of rotation about the instantaneous axis.

-- In`stan*ta"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- In`stan*ta"ne*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖adv. [ L., vehemently, earnestly. See Instant, n. & a. ] Immediately; instantly; at once; as, he left instanter. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. Without the least delay or interval; at once; immediately. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. With urgency or importunity; earnestly; pressingly. “They besought him instantly.” Luke vii. 4.

Syn. -- Directly; immediately; at once. See Directly. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To stud as with stars. [ R. ] “A golden throne instarred with gems.” J. Barlow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a postembryonic stage of life of an arthropod, especially an insect, between two successive molts; also, the arthropod when in that stage of life. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Instated; p. pr. & vb. n. Instating. ] To set, place, or establish, as in a rank, office, or condition; to install; to invest; as, to instate a person in greatness or in favor. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Instaurated p. pr. & vb. n. Instaurating ] [ L. instauratus, p. p. of instaurare to renew. See 1st In-, and Store. ] To renew or renovate. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. instauratio: cf. F. instauration. ] Restoration after decay, lapse, or dilapidation; renewal; repair; renovation; renaissance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some great catastrophe or . . . instauration. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L.: cf. F. instaurateur. ] One who renews or restores to a former condition. [ R. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Instaurate. ] To renew or renovate; to instaurate. [ Obs. ] Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Pref. in- + stead place. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. In the place or room; -- usually followed by of. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let thistles grow of wheat. Job xxxi. 40. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab. 2 Sam. xvii. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Equivalent; equal to; -- usually with of. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This very consideration to a wise man is instead of a thousand arguments, to satisfy him, that in those times no such thing was believed. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Insteeped p. pr. & vb. n. Insteeping. ] To steep or soak; to drench. [ R. ] “In gore he lay insteeped.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Formerly also instop, instup. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The arched middle portion of the human foot next in front of the ankle joint. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The part of a shoe, boot, or stocking covering the instep{ 1 }. [ PJC ]

3. That part of the hind leg of the horse and allied animals, between the hock, or ham, and the pastern joint. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. one who instigates; someone who deliberately provokes trouble; an instigator.
Syn. -- instigator, provoker, inciter. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

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 ]

adv. Incitingly; temptingly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. instigatio: cf. F. instigation. ] The act of instigating, or the state of being instigated; incitement; esp. to evil or wickedness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The baseness and villainy that . . . the instigation of the devil could bring the sons of men to. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. arousing to action or rebellion.
Syn. -- incendiary, incitive, inflammatory, rabble-rousing, seditious. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L.: cf. F. instigateur. ] One who instigates or incites. Burke.
Syn. -- inciter, instigant. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. same as instill.
Syn. -- instill. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

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. ] 1. To drop in; to pour in drop by drop. [ 1913 Webster ]

That starlight dews
All silently their tears of love instill. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically: To infuse (knowledge or attitudes) into the mind of another, slowly or gradually; to impart gradually; to cause to be imbibed. [ PJC ]

How hast thou instilled
Thy malice into thousands. Milton.

Syn. -- To infuse; impart; inspire; implant; inculcate; insinuate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. instillatio: cf. F. instillation. ] The act of instilling; also, that which is instilled. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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