constitute

[ kon-sti-toot, -tyoot ]
See synonyms for: constituteconstitutedconstitutesconstituting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),con·sti·tut·ed, con·sti·tut·ing.
  1. to compose; form: mortar constituted of lime and sand.

  2. to appoint to an office or function; make or create: He was constituted treasurer.

  1. to establish (laws, an institution, etc.).

  2. to give legal form to (an assembly, court, etc.).

  3. to create or be tantamount to: Imports constitute a challenge to local goods.

  4. Archaic. to set or place.

Origin of constitute

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin constitūtus, past participle of constituere “to set up, found”; see constituent

Other words for constitute

Other words from constitute

  • con·sti·tut·er, con·sti·tu·tor, noun
  • non·con·sti·tut·ed, adjective
  • pre·con·sti·tute, verb (used with object), pre·con·sti·tut·ed, pre·con·sti·tut·ing.
  • self-con·sti·tut·ed, adjective
  • self-con·sti·tut·ing, adjective
  • un·con·sti·tut·ed, adjective
  • well-con·sti·tut·ed, adjective

Words Nearby constitute

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use constitute in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for constitute

constitute

/ (ˈkɒnstɪˌtjuːt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to make up; form; compose: the people who constitute a jury

  2. to appoint to an office or function: a legally constituted officer

  1. to set up (a school or other institution) formally; found

  2. law to give legal form to (a court, assembly, etc)

  3. law obsolete to set up or enact (a law)

Origin of constitute

1
C15: from Latin constituere, from com- (intensive) + statuere to place

Derived forms of constitute

  • constituter or constitutor, noun

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