Dictionary-Definition.com :: Institute definition

Definition of 'institute'

noun

An association organized to promote art or science or education

verb

Set up or lay the groundwork for; "establish a new department" [syn: establish, found, plant, constitute, institute]

verb

Advance or set forth in court; "bring charges", "institute proceedings" [syn: institute, bring]

From: GCIDE

Institute \In"sti*tute\, 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]

From: GCIDE

Institute \In"sti*tute\ ([i^]n"st[i^]*t[=u]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Instituted ([i^]n"st[i^]*t[=u]`t[e^]d); 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]

From: GCIDE

Institute \In"sti*tute\ ([i^]n"st[i^]*t[=u]t), 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]