Part 290

In"sti*ga`tor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. instigateur.] One who instigates or incites. Burke.

In*still" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Instilled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Instilling.] [L. instillare, instillatum; pref. in- in + stillare to drop, fr. stilla a drop: cf. F. instiller. See Distill.] [Written also instil.] To drop in; to pour in drop by drop; hence, to impart gradually; to infuse slowly; to cause to be imbibed.

That starlight dews All silently their tears of love instill.

Byron.

How hast thou instilled Thy malice into thousands.

Milton.

Syn. -- To infuse; impart; inspire; implant; inculcate; insinuate.

In`stil*la"tion (?), n. [L. instillatio: cf. F. instillation.] The act of instilling; also, that which is instilled. Johnson.

In"stil*la`tor (?), n. An instiller. [R.]

In*stil"la*to*ry (?), a. Belonging to instillation. [R.]

In*still"er (?), n. One who instills. Skelton.

In*still"ment (?), n. The act of instilling; also, that which is instilled. [Written also instilment.]

In*stim"u*late (?), v. t. [Pref. in- not + stimulate.] Not to stimulate; to soothe; to quiet. [Obs.] Cheyne.

In*stim"u*late, v. t. [L. instimulatus, p. p. instimulare to stimulate. See 1st In-, and Stimulate.] To stimulate; to excite. [Obs.] Cockeram.

In*stim`u*la"tion (?), n. Stimulation.

In*stinct" (?), a. [L. instinctus, p. p. of instinguere to instigate, incite; cf. instigare to instigate. Cf. Instigate, Distinguish.] Urged or stimulated from within; naturally moved or impelled; imbued; animated; alive; quick; as, birds instinct with life.

The chariot of paternal deity . . . Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed By four cherubic shapes.

Milton.

A noble performance, instinct with sound principle.

Brougham.

In"stinct (n"stkt), n. [L. instinctus instigation, impulse, fr. instinguere to instigate: cf. F. instinct. See Instinct, a.]

1. Natural inward impulse; unconscious, involuntary, or unreasoning prompting to any mode of action, whether bodily, or mental, without a distinct apprehension of the end or object to be accomplished.

An instinct is a propensity prior to experience, and independent of instructions.

Paley.

An instinct is a blind tendency to some mode of action, independent of any consideration, on the part of the agent, of the end to which the action leads.

Whately.

An instinct is an agent which performs blindly and ignorantly a work of intelligence and knowledge.

Sir W. Hamilton.