Part 5918

<hw>In"stance</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>instance</ets>, L. <ets>instantia</ets>, fr. <ets>instans</ets>. See <er>Instant</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The act or quality of being instant or pressing; urgency; solicitation; application; suggestion; motion.</def>

<blockquote>Undertook at her <b>instance</b> to restore them. <i>Sir W. Scott.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which is instant or urgent; motive.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>The <b>instances</b> that second marriage move Are base respects of thrift, but none of love. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Occasion; order of occurrence.</def>

<blockquote>These seem as if, in the time of Edward I., they were drawn up into the form of a law, in the first <b>instance</b>. <i>Sir M. Hale.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>That which offers itself or is offered as an illustrative case; something cited in proof or exemplification; a case occurring; an example.</def>

<blockquote>Most remarkable <b>instances</b> of suffering. <i>Atterbury.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>A token; a sign; a symptom or indication.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<cs><col>Causes of instance</col>, <cd>those which proceed at the solicitation of some party. <i>Hallifax</i>.</cd> -- <col>Court of first instance</col>, <cd>the court by which a case is first tried.</cd> -- <col>For instance</col>, <cd>by way of example or illustration.</cd> -- <col>Instance Court</col> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>the Court of Admiralty acting within its ordinary jurisdiction, as distinguished from its action as a <i>prize court<i>.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- Example; case. See <er>Example</er>.</syn>

<h1>Instance</h1> <Xpage=771>

<hw>In"stance</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Instanced</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Instancing</er> <tt>(?)</tt>.]</wordforms> <def>To mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite; <as>as, to <ex>instance</ex> a fact</as>.</def>

<i>H. Spenser.</i>

<blockquote>I shall not <b>instance</b> an abstruse author. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Instance</h1> <Xpage=771>

<hw>In"stance</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To give an example.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>This story doth not only <b>instance</b> in kingdoms, but in families too. <i>Jer. Taylor.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Instancy</h1> <Xpage=771>

<hw>In"stan*cy</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Instance; urgency.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Those heavenly precepts which our Lord and Savior with so great <b>instancy</b> gave. <i>Hooker.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Instant</h1> <Xpage=771>

<hw>In"stant</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>instans</ets>, <ets>-antis</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>instare</ets> to stand upon, to press upon; pref. <ets>in-</ets> in, on + <ets>stare</ets> to stand: cf. F. <ets>in<?/tant</ets>. See <er>Stand</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest.</def>

<blockquote>Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing <b>instant</b> in prayer. <i>Rom. xii. 12. </i></blockquote>

<blockquote>I am beginning to be very <b>instant</b> for some sort of occupation. <i>Carlyle.</i></blockquote>