Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IN'STANT, n.

1. A paint in duration; a moment; a part of duration in which we perceive no succession, or a part that occupies the time of a single thought.
2. A particular time. Shak.

IN-STAN-TA-NE'I-TY, n.

Unpremeditated production. Shenstone.

IN-STANT-A'NE-OUS, a. [Fr. instantané; Sp. and It. instantaneo.]

Done in an instant; occurring or acting without any perceptible succession; very speedily. The passage of electricity through any given space appears to be instantaneous.

IN-STANT-A'NE-OUS-LY, adv.

In an instant; in a moment; in an indivisible point of duration. The operations of the human mind are wonderful; our thoughts fly from world to world instantaneously. In the western parts of the Atlantic states of America, showers of rain sometimes begin instantaneously.

IN-STANT-A'NE-OUS-NESS, n.

The quality of being done in an instant.

IN-STANT'ER, adv. [L.]

In law, immediately; at the present time; without delay. The party was compelled to plead instanter.

IN'STANT-LY, adv.

1. Immediately; without any intervening time; at the moment. Lightning often kills instantly.
2. With urgent importunity. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, that he was worthy for whom he should do this. Luke vii.
3. With diligence and earnestness. Acts xxvi.

IN-STAR', v.t. [in and star.]

To set or ordain with stars, or with brilliants.

INSTAR-OMNIUM, n. [Instar omnium; L.]

Like all; an example for all.

IN-STAR'RED, pp.

Adorned with stars. A golden throne / Instarr'd with gems. J. Barlow.

IN-STATE', v.i. [in and state.]

1. To set or place; to establish, as in a rank or condition; as, to instate a person in greatness or in favor. South. Atterbury.
2. To invest. [Obs.] Shak.

IN-STAT'ED, pp.

Set or placed.

IN-STAT'ING, ppr.

Setting or placing.

IN-STATU-QUO, adv. [In statu quo; L.]

In the former state or condition.

IN-STAU'RATE, v.t. [L. instauro.]

To reform; to repair. Smith.

IN-STAU-RA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. instauratio, instauro, to renew.]

Renewal; repair; re-establishment; the restoration of a thing to its former state, after decay, lapse or dilapidation.

IN-STAU-RA'TOR, n.

One who renews or restores to a former condition. More.

IN-STEAD', adv. [insted'; a compound of in and stead, place; but stead retains its character of a noun, and is followed by of; instead of, in the same manner as in the stead of.]

In the place or room of. Let thistles grow instead of wheat. Job xxxi. Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab. 2 Sam. xvii. This consideration is instead of a thousand arguments. In this use, instead may be equivalent to equal to. When instead is used without of following, there is an ellipsis, or some words are understood.

IN-STEEP', v.t. [in and steep.]

1. To steep or soak; to drench; to macerate in moisture. Shak.
2. To keep under or in water.

IN-STEEP'ED, pp.

Steeped; soaked; drenched; lying under water.

IN-STEEP'ING, ppr.

Steeping; soaking.

IN'STEP, n. [in and step.]

1. The instep of the human foot, is the forepart of the upper side of the foot, near its junction with the leg.
2. The instep of a horse, is that part of the hind leg, which reaches from the ham to the pastern-joint. Encyc.

IN'STI-GATE, v.t. [L. instigo; in and stigo, inusit., Gr. στιζω, to prick.]

To incite; to set on; to provoke; to urge; used chiefly or wholly in an ill sense; as, to instigate one to evil; to instigate to a crime.

IN'STI-GA-TED, pp.

Incited or persuaded, as to evil.

IN'STI-GA-TING, ppr.

Inciting; tempting to evil.