Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON'STI-TUTE, v.t. [L. constituo; con and statuo, to set. See Statue, Statute. It. constituire; Sp. constituir; Fr. constituer.]

1. To set; to fix; to enact; to establish. We must obey laws appointed and constituted by lawful authority, not against the law of God. – Taylor.
2. To form or compose; to give formal existence to; to make a thing what it is. Perspicuity constitutes the prime excellence of style. Truth and reason constitute that intellectual gold that defies destruction. – Johnson.
3. To appoint, depute or elect to an office or employment; to make and empower. A sherif is constituted a conservator of the peace. A. has constituted B. his attorney or agent.