GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 3 definitions
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Instance (?), n. [F. instance, L. instantia, fr. instans. See Instant.]
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1. The act or quality of being instant or pressing; urgency; solicitation; application; suggestion; motion.
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Undertook at her instance to restore them. Sir W. Scott.
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2. That which is instant or urgent; motive. [Obs.]
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The instances that second marriage move
Are base respects of thrift, but none of love. Shak.
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3. Occasion; order of occurrence.
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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.
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4. That which offers itself or is offered as an illustrative case; something cited in proof or exemplification; a case occurring; an example; as, “we could find no instance of poisoning in the town within the past year”.
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Most remarkable instances of suffering. Atterbury.
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5. A token; a sign; a symptom or indication. Shak.
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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; for example. -- 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.
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Instance (?), 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.
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I shall not instance an abstruse author. Milton.
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Instance, v. i. To give an example. [Obs.]
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This story doth not only instance in kingdoms, but in families too. Jer. Taylor.
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