Instigate

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: in=sti=gate

CIDE DICTIONARY

Instigate, v. t. [L. instigatus, p. p. of instigare to instigate; pref. in- in + a root akin to G. stechen to prick, E. stick. See Stick.].

 To goad or urge forward; to set on; to provoke; to incite; -- used chiefly with reference to evil actions; as, to instigate one to a crime.  [1913 Webster]
"He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity."

Syn. -- To stimulate; urge; spur; provoke; tempt; incite; impel; encourage; animate.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Instigate, v.tr.
1 bring about by incitement or persuasion; provoke (who instigated the inquiry?).
2 (usu. foll. by to) urge on, incite (a person etc.) to esp. an evil act.

Derivative

instigation n. instigative adj. instigator n.

Etymology

L instigare instigat-

THESAURUS

Instigate

abet, activate, actuate, agitate, arouse, blow the coals, bring, bring on, call forth, contrive, draw down, draw on, effect, elicit, evoke, excite, fan, fan the flame, feed the fire, ferment, fire, foment, get, goad, heat, heat up, hint, impassion, incense, incite, induce, inflame, insinuate, inspire, lead, motivate, nettle, obtain, pique, plan, plot, procure, provoke, put up to, raise, rally, scheme, set, set on, sic on, stir the embers, stir up, suggest, superinduce, tickle, urge, whet, whip up, work up

ROGET THESAURUS

Instigate

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.