instinct : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: instinct	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for instinct
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
instinct adj (followed by `with')deeply filled or permeated; "imbued with the spirit of the Reformation"; "words instinct with love"; "it is replete with misery" Synonym(s): instinct(p), replete(p) n inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli; "the spawning instinct in salmon"; "altruistic instincts in social animals" Synonym(s): instinct, inherent aptitude
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Instinct \In"stinct\, n. [L. instinctus instigation, impulse, fr. instinguere to instigate: cf. F. instinct. See {Instinct}, a.] 1. Natural inward impulse; unconscious, involuntary, or unreasoning prompting to any mode of action, whether bodily, or mental, without a distinct apprehension of the end or object to be accomplished. An instinct is a propensity prior to experience, and independent of instructions. --Paley. An instinct is a blind tendency to some mode of action, independent of any consideration, on the part of the agent, of the end to which the action leads. --Whately. An instinct is an agent which performs blindly and ignorantly a work of intelligence and knowledge. --Sir W. Hamilton. By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing dangers. --Shak. 2. (Zo[94]l.) Specif., the natural, unreasoning, impulse by which an animal is guided to the performance of any action, without of improvement in the method. The resemblance between what originally was a habit, and an instinct becomes so close as not to be distinguished. --Darwin. 3. A natural aptitude or knack; a predilection; as, an instinct for order; to be modest by instinct.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Instinct \Instinct"\, a. [L. instinctus, p. p. of instinguere to instigate, incite; cf. instigare to instigate. Cf. {Instigate}, {Distinguish}.] Urged or stimulated from within; naturally moved or impelled; imbued; animated; alive; quick; as, birds instinct* with life. The chariot of paternal deity . . . Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed By four cherubic shapes. --Milton. A noble performance, instinct with sound principle. --Brougham.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Instinct \In*stinct"\, v. t. To impress, as an animating power, or instinct. [Obs.] --Bentley.