institute Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun an association organized to promote art or science or education
verb set up or lay the groundwork for
constitute; found; plant; establish.
- establish a new department
verb advance or set forth in court
bring.
- bring charges", "institute proceedings

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

imperfect & past participle Instituted ; present participle & verbal noun Instituting

To set up; to establish; to ordain; as, to institute laws, rules, etc.
To originate and establish; to found; to organize; as, to institute a court, or a society.
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. ).
To nominate; to appoint. Obs.
We institute your Grace To be our regent in these parts of France. Shak.
To begin; to commence; to set on foot; as, to institute an inquiry; to institute a suit.
And haply institute A course of learning and ingenious studies. Shak.
To ground or establish in principles and rudiments; to educate; to instruct. Obs.
If children were early instituted, knowledge would insensibly insinuate itself. Dr. H. More.
(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.

L. institutum: cf. F. institut. See Institute, v. t. & a.

The act of instituting; institution. Obs. "Water sanctified by Christ's institute." Milton.
That which is instituted, established, or fixed, as a law, habit, or custom. Glover.
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.
They made a sort of institute and digest of anarchy. Burke.

To make the Stoics' institutes thy own. Dryden.
An institution; a society established for the promotion of learning, art, science, etc.; a college; as, the Institute of Technology; also, a building owned or occupied by such an institute; as, the Cooper Institute.
(Scots Law) The person to whom an estate is first given by destination or limitation. Tomlins.