instigate : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: instigate	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for instigate
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
instigate v provoke or stir up; "incite a riot"; "set off great unrest among the people" Synonym(s): incite, instigate, set off, stir up serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my relatives" Synonym(s): prompt, inspire, instigate
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Instigate \In"stigate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Instigated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Instigating}.] [L. instigatus, p. p. of instigare to instigate; pref. in- in + a root akin to G. stechen to prick, E. stick. See {Stick}.] To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite; -- used chiefly with reference to evil actions; as to instigate* one to a crime. He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity. --Bp. Warburton. Syn: To stimulate; urge; spur; provoke; tempt; incite; impel; encourage; animate.