constitute
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English constituten, from Latin cōnstitūtum, neuter of cōnstitūtus, past participle of Latin cōnstituō (“to put in place, set up, establish”).
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
constitute (third-person singular simple present constitutes, present participle constituting, simple past and past participle constituted)
- (transitive) To set up; to establish; to enact.
- 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC:
- Laws appointed and constituted by lawful authority.
- (transitive) To make up; to compose; to form.
- 1779–81, Samuel Johnson, "Abraham Cowley" in Lives of the Most Eminent English Poet
- Truth and reason constitute that intellectual gold that defies destruction.
- 1779–81, Samuel Johnson, "Abraham Cowley" in Lives of the Most Eminent English Poet
- (transitive) To appoint, depute, or elect to an office; to make and empower.
- 1814, William Wordsworth, The Excursion:
- Me didst Thou constitute a priest of thine.
Synonyms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
to cause to stand; to establish; to enact
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to make up; to compose; to form
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to appoint, depute, or elect to an office; to make and empower
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Noun edit
constitute (plural constitutes)
- (obsolete) An established law.
- 1569, Thomas Preston, Cambyses:
- A naughty man that will not obey the kings constitute.
References edit
- “constitute”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
Further reading edit
- “constitute”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “constitute”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Latin edit
Noun edit
cōnstitūte
References edit
- constitute in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
Scots edit
Verb edit
constitute (third-person singular simple present constitutes, present participle constitutein, simple past constitutet, past participle constitutet)
- To constitute.