Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IN'STANCE, n. [Fr. from L. insto, to press; in and sto, to stand. Literally, a standing on. Hence,]

1. Urgency; a pressing; solicitation; importunity; application. The request was granted at the instance of the defendant's advocate.
2. Example; a case occurring; a case offered. Howard furnished a remarkable instance of disinterested benevolence. The world may never witness a second instance of the success of daring enterprise and usurpation, equal to that of Buonaparte. Suppose the earth should be removed nearer to the sun, and revolve, for instance, in the orbit of Mercury, the whole ocean would boil with heat. Bentley. The use of instances is to illustrate and explain a difficulty. Baker.
3. Time; occasion occurrence. These seem as if, in the time of Edward I. they were drawn up in the form of a law, in the first instance. Hale.
4. Motive; influence. [Obs.] Shak.
5. Process of a suit. [Obs.] Instance-court, a branch of the court of admiralty, in England, distinct from the prize-court.