Part 291

By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing dangers.

Shak.

2. (Zoöl.) Specif., the natural, unreasoning, impulse by which an animal is guided to the performance of any action, without thought of improvement in the method.

The resemblance between what originally was a habit, and an instinct becomes so close as not to be distinguished.

Darwin.

3. A natural aptitude or knack; a predilection; as, an instinct for order; to be modest by instinct.

In*stinct" (n*stkt"), v. t. To impress, as an animating power, or instinct. [Obs.] Bentley.

In*stinc"tion (?), n. Instinct; incitement; inspiration. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

In*stinc"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. instinctif.] Of or pertaining to instinct; derived from, or prompted by, instinct; of the nature of instinct; determined by natural impulse or propensity; acting or produced without reasoning, deliberation, instruction, or experience; spontaneous. "Instinctive motion." Milton. "Instinctive dread." Cowper.

With taste instinctive give Each grace appropriate.

Mason.

Have we had instinctive intimations of the death of some absent friends?

Bp. Hall.

The terms instinctive belief, instinctive judgment, instinctive cognition, are expressions not ill adapted to characterize a belief, judgment, or cognition, which, as the result of no anterior consciousness, is, like the products of animal instinct, the intelligent effect of (as far as we are concerned) an unknown cause. Sir H. Hamilton.

Syn. -- Natural; voluntary; spontaneous; original; innate; inherent; automatic.

In*stinc"tive*ly, adv. In an instinctive manner; by force of instinct; by natural impulse.

In`stinc*tiv"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being instinctive, or prompted by instinct. [R.] Coleridge.

In*stip"u*late (?), a. See Exstipulate.

In"sti*tute (n"st*tt), 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.]

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

Robynson (More's Utopia).

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In"sti*tute (n"st*tt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Instituted (- t`td); p. pr. & vb. n. Instituting.]

1. To set up; to establish; to ordain; as, to institute laws, rules, etc.

2. To originate and establish; to found; to organize; as, to institute a court, or a society.

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. ).

3. To nominate; to appoint. [Obs.]