Definition of instigate

The word "instigate" can be traced back to the Middle English language, where it was spelled "insteygen" and meant "to set in motion" or "to activate." Its roots lie in the Old French word "instigier," which came from the Latin "instigare," meaning "to provoke or stir up." In Latin, "instigare" was composed of two parts: "in," meaning "into," and "stigare," meaning "to prick" or "to excite." The Latin form of the word first appeared around the 15th century, during the Renaissance period. Over time, the meaning of "instigate" evolved to include the idea of inciting or compelling someone to do something, as well as setting something in motion. The Spoken English Oxford Dictionary defines "instigate" as "to persuade or urge (someone) to do something." The word "instigate" began to appear in English literature around the 16th century, at which point it was commonly used in legal contexts to describe someone who provoked or incited a crime. Today, "instigate" is used more broadly to refer to any action that sets a course of events in motion, especially when it involves encouraging or urging someone to act. In conclusion, the origin of the word "instigate" can be traced back to medieval French and Latin, where it originally meant "to set in motion" or "to provoke or stir up." Over the centuries, its meaning has evolved to include ideas of inciting and compelling, and it remains in use today as a verb to describe actions that set events in motion.