Adjacent Words

Instance definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

IN'STANCE, n. [L. insto, to press; in and sto, to stand.]
Literally, a standing on. Hence,
1. Urgency; a pressing; solicitation; importunity; application. The request was granted at the instance of the defendant's advocate.
2. Example; a case occurring; a case offered. Howard furnished a remarkable instance of disinterested benevolence. The world may never witness a second instance of the success of daring enterprise and usurpation, equal to that of Buonaparte.
Suppose the earth should be removed nearer to the sun, and revolve, for instance,in the orbit of Mercury, the whole ocean would boil with heat.
The use of instances, is to illustrate and explain a difficulty.
3. Time; occasion; occurrence.
These seem as if, in the time of Edward I, they were drawn up into the form of a law, in the first instance.
4. Motive; influence.
5. Process of a suit.
Instance-court, a branch of the court of admiralty, in England, distinct from the prize-court.
IN'STANCE, v.i. To give or offer an example or case.
As to false citations--I shall instance in two or three.
IN'STANCE, v.t. To mention as an example or case. He instanced the event of Caesar's death.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an occurrence of something; "it was a case of bad judgment"; "another instance occurred yesterday"; "but there is always the famous example of the Smiths" [syn: case, instance, example]
2: an item of information that is typical of a class or group; "this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome"; "there is an example on page 10" [syn: example, illustration, instance, representative] v
1: clarify by giving an example of [syn: exemplify, illustrate, instance]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Date: 14th century 1. a. archaic urgent or earnest solicitation b. instigation, request <am writing to you at the instance of my client> c. obsolete an impelling cause or motive 2. a. archaic exception b. an individual illustrative of a category or brought forward in support or disproof of a generalization c. obsolete token, sign 3. the institution and prosecution of a lawsuit ; suit 4. a step, stage, or situation viewed as part of a process or series of events <prefers, in this instance, to remain anonymous — Times Literary Supplement> Synonyms: instance, case, illustration, example, sample, specimen mean something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category. instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain <an instance of history repeating itself>. case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with <a case of mistaken identity>. illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement <a telling illustration of Murphy's Law>. example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case <a typical example of bureaucratic waste>. sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities <show us a sample of your work>. specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available <one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art>. II. transitive verb (instanced; instancing) Date: 1601 1. to illustrate or demonstrate by an instance 2. to mention as a case or example ; cite

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 an example or illustration of (just another instance of his lack of determination). 2 a particular case (that's not true in this instance). 3 Law a legal suit. --v.tr. cite (a fact, case, etc.) as an instance. Phrases and idioms: at the instance of at the request or suggestion of. court of first instance Law a court of primary jurisdiction. for instance as an example. in the first (or second etc.) instance in the first (or second etc.) place; at the first (or second etc.) stage of a proceeding. Etymology: ME f. OF f. L instantia (as INSTANT)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Instance In"stance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Instanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Instancing.] To mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite; as, to instance a fact. --H. Spenser. I shall not instance an abstruse author. --Milton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Instance In"stance, v. i. To give an example. [Obs.] This story doth not only instance in kingdoms, but in families too. --Jer. Taylor.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Instance In"stance, n. [F. instance, L. instantia, fr. instans. See Instant.] 1. The act or quality of being instant or pressing; urgency; solicitation; application; suggestion; motion. Undertook at her instance to restore them. --Sir W. Scott. 2. That which is instant or urgent; motive. [Obs.] The instances that second marriage move Are base respects of thrift, but none of love. --Shak. 3. Occasion; order of occurrence. These seem as if, in the time of Edward I., they were drawn up into the form of a law, in the first instance. --Sir M. Hale. 4. That which offers itself or is offered as an illustrative case; something cited in proof or exemplification; a case occurring; an example. Most remarkable instances of suffering. --Atterbury. 5. A token; a sign; a symptom or indication. --Shak. Causes of instance, those which proceed at the solicitation of some party. --Hallifax. Court of first instance, the court by which a case is first tried. For instance, by way of example or illustration. Instance Court (Law), the Court of Admiralty acting within its ordinary jurisdiction, as distinguished from its action as a prize court. Syn: Example; case. See Example.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(instances) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. You use for instance to introduce a particular event, situation, or person that is an example of what you are talking about. There are a number of improvements; for instance, both mouse buttons can now be used... PHRASE: PHR with cl/group 2. An instance is a particular example or occurrence of something. ...an investigation into a serious instance of corruption. N-COUNT 3. You say in the first instance to mention something that is the first step in a series of actions. In the first instance your child will be seen by an ear, nose and throat specialist... PHRASE: PHR with cl

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Solicitation, request, prompting, instigation, incitement, impulse. 2. Urgency, urgent solicitation, importunity, persistent pressure. 3. Example, exemplification, illustration, case. II. v. a. Mention (as an instance), bring forward as an example, cite, specify.

Moby Thesaurus

abetment, adduce, anatomize, article, as an example, aspect, atomize, call to mind, case, case history, case in point, circumstantiate, citation, cite, cite a particular, count, cross reference, datum, demonstrate, demonstration, descend to particulars, detail, document, element, emblem, encouragement, enter into detail, event, example, exemplar, exemplification, exemplify, explanation, exponent, facet, fact, factor, for example, for instance, give a for-instance, give full particulars, goading, ground, illustrate, illustration, improper suggestion, incidental, indecent proposal, insistence, item, itemize, matter, minor detail, minutia, minutiae, motion, name, needling, object lesson, occurrence, particular, particularize, pass, point, precedent, pressing, pressure, pricking, prodding, proof, proposal, proposition, quotation, quote, reason, reference, regard, relevant instance, representative, request, resolution, respect, sample, sampling, say, sexual advance, specify, specimen, spell out, spurring, substantiate, suggestion, symbol, thing, type, typical example, urging