institute

plural institutes

1. An organization founded to promote a cause

   I work in a medical research institute.

2. An institution of learning; a college, especially for technical subjects
3. The building housing such an institution.
4. obsoleteThe act of instituting; institution.

   water sanctified by Christ's institute

   1641 May, John Milton, Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England: And the Causes that hitherto have Hindred it. […], [London]: […] Thomas Vnderhill, →OCLC

5. obsoleteThat which is instituted, established, or fixed, such as a law, habit, or custom.

   to make the Stoic institutes thy own

   1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Fifth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   They made a sort of institute and digest of anarchy.

   1837, Robert Huish, The History of the Life and Reign of William IV, the Reform Monarch of England,

6. ScotlandlawThe person to whom an estate is first given by destination or limitation.

   Substitution is the nomination of substituted heirs, who take place, failing the institute.

   1681, Viscount Stair, The Institutions of the Law of Scotland

present singular third person institutes · participle present instituting · participle past instituted · past instituted

1. transitiveTo begin or initiate (something); to found.

   He instituted the new policy of having children walk through a metal detector to enter school.

   2 more examples

   And haply institute / A course of learning and ingenious studies.

   c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

   Whenever any form 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.

   1776, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence

2. obsoletetransitiveTo train, instruct.

   If children were early instituted, knowledge would insensibly insinuate itself.

   a. 1684, author unknown, Gentleman's Calling

   1 more example

   Publius was the first that ever instituted the Souldier to manage his armes by dexteritie and skil, and joyned art unto vertue, not for the use of private contentions, but for the wars and Roman peoples quarrels.

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

3. To nominate; to appoint.

   We institute your Grace / To be our regent in these parts of France.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

4. ecclesiasticalTo invest with the spiritual charge of a benefice, or the care of souls.

   a writ issued to the bishop, to institute the clerk of that patron

   1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (please specify |book=I to IV), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC

1. not comparableobsoleteEstablished; organized; founded.

   They have but few laws. For to a people so instruct and institute, very few to suffice.

   1551, Thomas More, “(please specify the Internet Archive page)”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and Pleasaunt Worke of the Best State of a Publyque Weale, and of the Newe Yle Called Utopia: […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, […], →OCLC