constitute

English

Etymology

From Middle English constituten, from Latin cōnstitūtum, neuter of cōnstitūtus, past participle of Latin cōnstituō (“to put in place, set up, establish”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒnstɪtjuːt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑnstɪt(j)uːt/

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Verb

constitute (third-person singular simple present constitutes, present participle constituting, simple past and past participle constituted)

1. (transitive) To set up; to establish; to enact.
   • 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. , 2nd edition, London: Francis Ashe , →OCLC:

     Laws appointed and constituted by lawful authority.

2. (transitive) To make up; to compose; to form.
   • 1779–81, Samuel Johnson, "Abraham Cowley" in Lives of the Most Eminent English Poet

     Truth and reason constitute that intellectual gold that defies destruction.

3. (transitive) To appoint, depute, or elect to an office; to make and empower.
   • 1814, William Wordsworth, The Excursion:

     Me didst Thou constitute a priest of thine.

Synonyms

• (set up): establish, enact
• (make up): make up, compose, form; see also Thesaurus:compose
• (appoint):

Related terms

• constituent
• constituency
• constitution
• constitutional
• constitutionalization
• constitutive

Translations

Noun

constitute (plural constitutes)

1. (obsolete) An established law.
   • 1569, Thomas Preston, Cambyses:

     A naughty man that will not obey the kings constitute.

References

• “constitute”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Further reading

• “constitute”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “constitute”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Latin

Noun

cōnstitūte

1. vocative singular of cōnstitūtus

References

• constitute in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)

Scots

Verb

constitute (third-person singular simple present constitutes, present participle constitutein, simple past constitutet, past participle constitutet)

1. To constitute.