constitution

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: con=sti=tu=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

constitution, n. [F. constitution, L. constitutio.].

•  The act or process of constituting; the action of enacting, establishing, or appointing; enactment; establishment; formation.  [1913 Webster]
•  The state of being; that form of being, or structure and connection of parts, which constitutes and characterizes a system or body; natural condition; structure; texture; conformation.  [1913 Webster]

  "The physical constitution of the sun."  [1913 Webster]
•  The aggregate of all one's inherited physical qualities; the aggregate of the vital powers of an individual, with reference to ability to endure hardship, resist disease, etc.; as, a robust constitution.  [1913 Webster]

  "Our constitutions have never been enfeebled by the vices or luxuries of the old world."  [1913 Webster]
•  The aggregate of mental qualities; temperament.  [1913 Webster]

  "He defended himself with . . . less passion than was expected from his constitution."  [1913 Webster]
•  The fundamental, organic law or principles of government of men, embodied in written documents, or implied in the institutions and usages of the country or society; also, a written instrument embodying such organic law, and laying down fundamental rules and principles for the conduct of affairs.  [1913 Webster]

  " In England the constitution is unwritten, and may be modified from time to time by act of Parliament. In the United States a constitution cannot ordinarily be modified, exept through such processes as the constitution itself ordains."  [1913 Webster]

  "Our constitution had begun to exist in times when statesmen were not much accustomed to frame exact definitions."  [1913 Webster]
•  An authoritative ordinance, regulation or enactment; especially, one made by a Roman emperor, or one affecting ecclesiastical doctrine or discipline; as, the constitutions of Justinian.  [1913 Webster]

  "The positive constitutions of our own churches."  [1913 Webster]

  "A constitution of Valentinian addressed to Olybrius, then prefect of Rome, for the regulation of the conduct of advocates."  [1913 Webster]

Apostolic constitutions. See under Apostolic.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

constitution, n.
1 the act or method of constituting; the composition (of something).
2 a the body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a State or other organization is acknowledged to be governed. b a (usu. written) record of this.
3 a person's physical state as regards vitality, health, strength, etc.
4 a person's mental or psychological make-up.
5 hist. a decree or ordinance.

Etymology

ME f. OF constitution or L constitutio (as constitute)

THESAURUS

constitution

Bill of Rights, act, allocation, allotment, anatomy, animus, apportionment, aptitude, architectonics, architecture, arrangement, array, arraying, assemblage, assembly, bent, bias, body-build, brand, build, building, buildup, cast, character, characteristic, characteristics, collation, collocation, combination, complexion, composition, compound, concurrent resolution, conformation, constituents, constitutional amendment, constitutional guarantees, construction, crasis, creation, deployment, design, dharma, diathesis, disposal, disposition, distribution, eccentricity, effectuation, embodiment, enaction, enactment, establishment, ethos, fabric, fabrication, fashion, fashioning, fiber, forging, form, format, formation, formulation, foundation, frame, genius, getup, grain, habit, hue, humor, humors, idiosyncrasy, ilk, inauguration, inception, inclination, incorporation, individualism, installation, institution, joint resolution, junction, kidney, kind, lawmaking, leaning, legislation, legislature, make, makeup, making, manufacture, marshaling, materialization, mental set, mettle, mind, mind-set, mixture, mold, molding, nature, order, ordering, organic structure, organism, organization, passage, passing, pattern, patterning, physique, piecing together, placement, plan, predilection, predisposition, preference, proclivity, production, propensity, property, putting together, quality, realization, regimentation, resolution, set, setting-up, setup, shape, shaping, slant, somatotype, sort, spirit, stamp, strain, streak, stripe, structure, structuring, suchness, syneresis, syntax, synthesis, system, tectonics, temper, temperament, tendency, tenor, texture, tissue, tone, turn, turn of mind, twist, type, unwritten constitution, vein, warp, warp and woof, way, weave, web, written constitution

ROGET THESAURUS

constitution

Intrinsicality

N intrinsicality, inbeing, inherence, inhesion, subjectiveness, ego, egohood, essence, noumenon, essentialness, essential part, quintessence, incarnation, quiddity, gist, pith, marrow, core, sap, lifeblood, backbone, heart, soul, important part, principle, nature, constitution, character, type, quality, crasis, diathesis, habit, temper, temperament, spirit, humor, grain, disposition, endowment, capacity, capability, moods, declensions, features, aspects, peculiarities, idiosyncrasy, oddity, idiocrasy, diagnostics, derived from within, subjective, intrinsic, intrinsical, fundamental, normal, implanted, inherent, essential, natural, innate, inborn, inbred, ingrained, inwrought, coeval with birth, genetous, haematobious, syngenic, radical, incarnate, thoroughbred, hereditary, inherited, immanent, congenital, congenite, connate, running in the blood, ingenerate, ingenite, indigenous, in the grain, bred in the bone, instinctive, inward, internal, to the manner born, virtual, characteristic, invariable, incurable, incorrigible, ineradicable, fixed, intrinsically, at bottom, in the main, in effect, practically, virtually, substantially, au fond, fairly, character is higher than intellect, come give us a taste of your quality, magnos homines virtute metimur non fortuna, non numero haec judicantur sed pondere, vital spark of heavenly flame.

State

N state, condition, category, estate, lot, ease, trim, mood, pickle, plight, temper, aspect, dilemma, pass, predicament, constitution, habitude, diathesis, frame, fabric, stamp, set, fit, mold, mould, mode, modality, schesis, form, tone, tenor, turn, trim, guise, fashion, light, complexion, style, character, conditional, modal, formal, structural, organic, conditionally, as the matter stands, as things are, such being the case.

Composition

N composition, constitution, crasis, combination, inclusion, admission, comprehension, reception, embodiment, formation, containing, constituting.

Legality

N legality, legitimacy, legitimateness, legislature, law, code, corpus juris, constitution, pandect, charter, enactment, statute, rule, canon, ordinance, institution, regulation, bylaw, byelaw, decree, ordonnance, standing order, plebiscite, legal process, form, formula, formality, rite, arm of the law, habeas corpus, fieri facias, jurisprudence, nomology, legislation, codification, equity, common law, lex, lex nonscripta, law of nations, droit des gens, international law, jus gentium, jus civile, civil law, canon law, crown law, criminal law, statute law, ecclesiastical law, administrative law, lex mercatoria, constitutionalism, constitutionality, justice, court, tribunal, judge, lawyer, attorney, legal counsel, legal, legitimate, according to law, vested, constitutional, chartered, legalized, lawful, statutable, statutory, legislatorial, legislative, regulatory, regulated, legally, in the eye of the law, de jure, ignorantia legis neminem excusat, ignorance of the law is no excuse, where law ends tyranny begins.

Dueness

N due, dueness, right, privilege, prerogative, prescription, title, claim, pretension, demand, birthright, immunity, license, liberty, franchise, vested interest, vested right, sanction, authority, warranty, charter, warrant, constitution, tenure, bond, claimant, appellant, plaintiff, having a right to, entitled to, claiming, deserving, meriting, worthy of, privileged, allowed, sanctioned, warranted, authorized, ordained, prescribed, constitutional, chartered, enfranchised, prescriptive, presumptive, absolute, indefeasible, unalienable, inalienable, imprescriptible, inviolable, unimpeachable, unchallenged, sacrosanct, due to, merited, deserved, condign, richly deserved, allowable, lawful, licit, legitimate, legal, legalized, square, unexceptionable, right, equitable, due, en r gle, fit, fitting, correct, proper, meet, befitting, becoming, seemly, decorous, creditable, up to the mark, right as a trivet, just the thing, quite the thing, selon les r gles, duly, ex officio, de jure, by right, by divine right, jure divino, Dei gratia, in the name of, civis Romanus sum, +a chaque saint sa chandelle.

Texture

N texture, structure (form), organization, anatomy, frame, mold, fabric, construction, framework, carcass, architecture, stratification, cleavage, substance, stuff, compages, parenchyma, constitution, staple, organism, organography, osteology, myology, splanchnology, neurology, angiography, adeology, angiography, adenography, texture, surface texture, intertexture, contexture, tissue, grain, web, surface, warp and woof, warp and weft, tooth, nap, flatness (smoothness), fineness of grain, coarseness of grain, dry goods, silk, satin, muslin, burlap, histology, structural, organic, anatomic, anatomical, textural, textile, fine grained, coarse grained, fine, delicate, subtile, gossamery, filmy, silky, satiny, coarse, homespun, rough, gritty, smooth, smooth as silk, smooth as satin.