'Constitution' definitions:

Definition of 'constitution'

(from WordNet)
noun
Law determining the fundamental political principles of a government [syn: fundamental law, organic law, constitution]
noun
The act of forming or establishing something; "the constitution of a PTA group last year"; "it was the establishment of his reputation"; "he still remembers the organization of the club" [syn: constitution, establishment, formation, organization, organisation]
noun
The constitution written at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 and subsequently ratified by the original thirteen states [syn: United States Constitution, U.S. Constitution, US Constitution, Constitution, Constitution of the United States]
noun
The way in which someone or something is composed [syn: constitution, composition, physical composition, makeup, make-up]
noun
A United States 44-gun frigate that was one of the first three naval ships built by the United States; it won brilliant victories over British frigates during the War of 1812 and is without doubt the most famous ship in the history of the United States Navy; it has been rebuilt and is anchored in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston [syn: Constitution, Old Ironsides]

Definition of 'Constitution'

From: GCIDE
  • Constitution \Con`sti*tu"tion\ (k[o^]n`st[i^]*t[=u]"sh[u^]n), n. [F. constitution, L. constitutio.]
  • 1. The act or process of constituting; the action of enacting, establishing, or appointing; enactment; establishment; formation. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The state of being; that form of being, or structure and connection of parts, which constitutes and characterizes a system or body; natural condition; structure; texture; conformation. [1913 Webster]
  • The physical constitution of the sun. --Sir J. Herschel. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. The aggregate of all one's inherited physical qualities; the aggregate of the vital powers of an individual, with reference to ability to endure hardship, resist disease, etc.; as, a robust constitution. [1913 Webster]
  • Our constitutions have never been enfeebled by the vices or luxuries of the old world. --Story. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. The aggregate of mental qualities; temperament. [1913 Webster]
  • He defended himself with . . . less passion than was expected from his constitution. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. The fundamental, organic law or principles of government of men, embodied in written documents, or implied in the institutions and usages of the country or society; also, a written instrument embodying such organic law, and laying down fundamental rules and principles for the conduct of affairs. [1913 Webster]
  • Our constitution had begun to exist in times when statesmen were not much accustomed to frame exact definitions. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: In England the constitution is unwritten, and may be modified from time to time by act of Parliament. In the United States a constitution cannot ordinarily be modified, exept through such processes as the constitution itself ordains. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. An authoritative ordinance, regulation or enactment; especially, one made by a Roman emperor, or one affecting ecclesiastical doctrine or discipline; as, the constitutions of Justinian. [1913 Webster]
  • The positive constitutions of our own churches. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]
  • A constitution of Valentinian addressed to Olybrius, then prefect of Rome, for the regulation of the conduct of advocates. --George Long. [1913 Webster]
  • Apostolic constitutions. See under Apostolic. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'constitution'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Constitution'