Constitute Con"sti·tute noun An established law. [ Obsolete] T. Preston.

Constituter Con"sti·tu`ter noun One who constitutes or appoints.

Constitution Con`sti·tu"tion noun [ French constitution , Latin constitute .] 1. The act or process of constituting; the action of enacting, establishing, or appointing; enactment; establishment; formation.

2. 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.

The physical constitution of the sun.
Sir J. Herschel.

3. 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 .

Our constitutions have never been enfeebled by the vices or luxuries of the old world.
Story.

4. The aggregate of mental qualities; temperament.

He defended himself with . . . less passion than was expected from his constitution .
Clarendon.

5. 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.

Our constitution had begun to exist in times when statesmen were not much accustomed to frame exact definitions.
Macaulay.

» 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.

6. 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.

The positive constitutions of our own churches.
Hooker.

A constitution of Valentinian addressed to Olybrius, then prefect of Rome, for the regulation of the conduct of advocates.
George Long.

Apostolic constitutions . See under Apostolic .

Constitutional Con`sti·tu"tion·al adjective [ f. French constitutionnel .] 1. Belonging to, or inherent in, the constitution, or in the structure of body or mind; as, a constitutional infirmity; constitutional ardor or dullness.

2. In accordance with, or authorized by, the constitution of a state or a society; as, constitutional reforms.

3. Regulated by, dependent on, or secured by, a constitution; as, constitutional government; constitutional rights. Hallam.

4. Relating to a constitution, or establishment form of government; as, a constitutional risis.

The anient constitutional traditions of the state.
Macaulay.

5. For the benefit or one's constitution or health; as, a constitutional walk. [ Colloq.]

Constitutional law , law that relates to the constitution, as a permanent system of political and juridical government, as distinguished from statutory and common law, which relate to matters subordinate to such constitution.

Constitutional Con`sti·tu"tion·al noun A walk or other exercise taken for one's health or constitution. [ Colloq.] Thackeray.

The men trudged diurnal constitutionals along the different roads.
Compton Reade.

Constitutionalism Con`sti·tu"tion·al·ism noun The theory, principles, or authority of constitutional government; attachment or adherence to a constitution or constitutional government. Carlyle.

Constitutionalist Con`sti·tu"tion·al·ist noun One who advocates a constitutional form of government; a constitutionalist.

Constitutionality Con`sti·tu`tion·al"i·ty noun ; plural - ties . [ f. French constitutionalité .] 1. The quality or state of being constitutional, or inherent in the natural frame.

2. The state of being consistent with the constitution or frame of government, or of being authorized by its provisions. Burke.

Constitutionalities , bottomless cavilings and questionings about written laws.
Carlyle.

Constitutionally Con`sti·tu"tion·al·ly adverb 1. In accordance with the constitution or natural disposition of the mind or body; naturally; as, he was constitutionally timid.

The English were constitutionally humane.
Hallam.

2. In accordance with the constitution or fundamental law; legally; as, he was not constitutionally appointed.

Nothing would indue them to acknowledge that [ such] an assembly . . . was constitutionally a Parliament.
Macaulay.

Constitutionist Con`sti·tu"tion·ist noun One who adheres to the constitution of the country. Bolingbroke.

Constitutive Con"sti·tu`tive adjective 1. Tending or assisting to constitute or compose; elemental; essential.

An ingredient and constitutive part of every virtue.
Barrow.

2. Having power to enact, establish, or create; instituting; determining. Sir W. Hamilton.

Constitutively Con"sti·tu`tive·ly adverb In a constitutive manner.

Constrain Con·strain" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Constrained ; present participle & verbal noun Constraining .] [ Old French constraindre , French contrainde , Latin constringere ; con- + stringere to draw tight. See Strain , and. confer Constrict , Constringe .] 1. To secure by bonds; to chain; to bond or confine; to hold tightly; to constringe.

He binds in chains
The drowsy prophet, and his limbs constrains .
Dryden.

When winter frosts constrain the fields with cold.
Dryden.

2. To bring into a narrow compass; to compress.

How the strait stays the slender waist constrain .
Gay.

3. To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress.

My sire in caves constrains the winds.
Dryden.

4. To compel; to force; to necessitate; to oblige.

The love of Christ constraineth us.
2. Cor. v. 14.

I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar.
Acts xxviii. 19.

5. To violate; to ravish. [ Obsolete] Shak.

6. To produce in such a manner as to give an unnatural effect; as, a constrained voice.

Syn. -- To compel; force; drive; impel; urge; press.

Constrainable Con·strain"a·ble adjective [ Confer Old French constraignable , French contraignable .] Capable of being constrained; liable to constraint, or to restraint. Hooker.

Constrained Con·strained" adjective Marked by constraint; not free; not voluntary; embarrassed; as, a constrained manner; a constrained tone.

Constrainedly Con·strain"ed·ly adverb By constraint or compulsion; in a constrained manner. Hooker.

Constrainer Con·strain"er noun One who constrains.

Constraint Con·straint" noun [ Old French constrainte , French constrainte .] The act of constraining, or the state of being constrained; that which compels to, or restrains from, action; compulsion; restraint; necessity.

Long imprisonment and hard constraint .
Spenser.

Not by constraint , but by my choice, I came.
Dryden.

Syn. -- Compulsion; violence; necessity; urgency. -- Constraint , Compulsion . Constraint implies strong binding force; as, the constraint of necessity; the constraint of fear. Compulsion implies the exertion of some urgent impelling force; as, driven by compulsion . The former prevents us from acting agreeably to our wishes; the latter forces us to act contrary to our will. Compulsion is always produced by some active agent; a constraint may be laid upon us by the forms of civil society, or by other outward circumstances. Crabb.

Constraintive Con·straint"ive adjective Constraining; compulsory. [ R.] "Any constraintive vow." R. Carew.

Constrict Con·strict" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Constricted ; present participle & verbal noun Constricting .] [ Latin constrictus , past participle of constringere . See Constrain .] To draw together; to render narrower or smaller; to bind; to cramp; to contract or cause to shrink.

Such things as constrict the fibers.
Arbuthnot.

Membranous organs inclosing a cavity which their contraction serves to constrict .
Todd & Bowman.

Constricted Con·strict"ed adjective 1. Drawn together; bound; contracted; cramped.

2. (Botany) Contracted or compressed so as to be smaller in certain places or parts than in others.

Constriction Con·stric"tion noun [ Latin constrictio : confer French constriction .] 1. The act of constricting by means of some inherent power or by movement or change in the thing itself, as distinguished from compression .

2. The state of being constricted; the point where a thing is constricted; a narrowing or binding.

A constriction of the parts inservient to speech.
Grew.

Constrictive Con·strict"ive adjective Serving or tending to bind or constrict.

Constrictor Con·strict"or noun 1. That which constricts, draws together, or contracts.

2. (Anat.) A muscle which contracts or closes an orifice, or which compresses an organ; a sphincter.

3. (Zoology) A serpent that kills its prey by inclosing and crushing it with its folds; as, the boa constrictor .

Constringe Con·stringe" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Constringed ; present participle & verbal noun Constringing .] [ Latin constringere . See onstrain .] To dawn together; to contract; to force to contract itself; to constrict; to cause to shrink. [ R.]

Strong liquors . . . intoxicate, constringe , harden the fibers, and coagulate the fluids.
Arbuthnot.

Constringent Con·strin"gent adjective [ Latin constringens , present participle] Having the quality of contracting, binding, or compressing. Thomson.

Construct Con·struct" (kŏn*strŭkt") transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Constructed ; present participle & verbal noun Constructing .] [ Latin constructus , past participle of construere to bring together, to construct; con- + struere to pile up, set in order. See Structure , and confer Construe .] 1. To put together the constituent parts of (something) in their proper place and order; to build; to form; to make; as, to construct an edifice.

2. To devise; to invent; to set in order; to arrange; as, to construct a theory of ethics.

Syn. -- To build; erect; form; compile; make; fabricate; originate; invent.

Construct Con"struct adjective Formed by, or relating to, construction, interpretation, or inference.

Construct form or state (Heb. Gram.) , that of a noun used before another which has the genitive relation to it.

Constructer Con·struct"er noun One who, or that which, constructs or frames.

Construction Con·struc"tion noun [ Latin constructio : confer French construction .] 1. The process or art of constructing; the act of building; erection; the act of devising and forming; fabrication; composition.

2. The form or manner of building or putting together the parts of anything; structure; arrangement.

An astrolabe of peculiar construction .
Whewell.

3. (Gram.) The arrangement and connection of words in a sentence; syntactical arrangement.

Some particles . . . in certain constructions have the sense of a whole sentence contained in them.
Locke.

4. The method of construing, interpreting, or explaining a declaration or fact; an attributed sense or meaning; understanding; explanation; interpretation; sense.

Any person . . . might, by the sort of construction that would be put on this act, become liable to the penalties of treason.
Hallam.

Strictly , the term [ construction ] signifies determining the meaning and proper effect of language by a consideration of the subject matter and attendant circumstances in connection with the words employed.
Abbott.

Interpretation properly precedes construction , but it does not go beyond the written text.
Parsons.

Construction of an equation (Math.) , the drawing of such lines and figures as will represent geometrically the quantities in the equation, and their relations to each other. -- Construction train (Railroad) , a train for transporting men and materials for construction or repairs.

Constructional Con·struc"tion·al adjective Pertaining to, or deduced from, construction or interpretation.

Constructionist Con·struc"tion·ist noun One who puts a certain construction upon some writing or instrument, as the Constitutions of the United States; as, a strict constructionist ; a broad constructionist .

Constructive Con·struct"ive adjective [ Confer French constructif .] 1. Having ability to construct or form; employed in construction; as, to exhibit constructive power.

The constructive fingers of Watts.
Emerson.

2. Derived from, or depending on, construction or interpretation; not directly expressed, but inferred.

Constructive crimes (Law) , acts having effects analogous to those of some statutory or common law crimes; as, constructive treason. Constructive crimes are no longer recognized by the courts. -- Constructive notice , notice imputed by construction of law. -- Constructive trust , a trust which may be assumed to exist, though no actual mention of it be made.

Constructively Con·struct"ive·ly adverb In a constructive manner; by construction or inference.

A neutral must have notice of a blockade, either actually by a formal information, or constructively by notice to his government.
Kent.

Constructiveness Con·struct"ive·ness noun 1. Tendency or ability to form or construct.

2. (Phren.) The faculty which enables one to construct, as in mechanical, artistic, or literary matters.

Constructor Con·struct"or noun [ Confer Late Latin constructor .] A constructer.

Constructure Con·struc"ture noun That which is constructed or formed; an edifice; a fabric. [ Obsolete]

Construe Con·strue transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Construed ; present participle & verbal noun Construing .] [ Latin construere : confer French construire . See Construct .] 1. To apply the rules of syntax to (a sentence or clause) so as to exhibit the structure, arrangement, or connection of, or to discover the sense; to explain the construction of; to interpret; to translate.

2. To put a construction upon; to explain the sense or intention of; to interpret; to understand.

Thus we are put to construe and paraphrase our own words to free ourselves either from the ignorance or malice of our enemies.
Bp. Stilingfleet.

And to be dull was construed to be good.
Pope.

Constuprate Con"stu·prate transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Construprated ; past participle & verbal noun Constuprating .] [ Latin constupratus , past participle of constuprare to ravish; con- + stuprare to ravish, stuprum rape.] To ravish; to debauch. Burton.

Constupration Con`stu·pra"tion noun The act of ravishing; violation; defilement. Bp. Hall.

Consubstantial Con`sub·stan"tial adjective [ Latin consubstantialis ; con- + substantialis : confer French consubstantiel . See Substantial .] Of the same kind or nature; having the same substance or essence; coessential.

Christ Jesus . . . coeternal and consubstantial with the Father and with the Holy Ghost.
Foxe.

Consubstantialism Con`sub·stan"tial·ism noun The doctrine of consubstantiation.

Consubstantialist Con`sub·stan"tial·ist noun One who believes in consubstantiation. Barrow.

Consubstantiality Con`sub·stan"ti·al"i·ty noun [ Confer French consubstantialité .] Participation of the same nature; coexistence in the same substance. "His [ the Son's] . . . consubstantiality with the Father." Hammend.

Consubstantially Con`sub·stan"tial·ly adverb In a consubstantial manner; with identity of substance or nature.

Consubstantiate Con`sub·stan"ti·ate transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Consubstantiated ; present participle & verbal noun Consubstantiating .] To cause to unite, or to regard as united, in one common substance or nature. [ R.]

His soul must be consubstantiated with reason.
Jer. Taylor.

Consubstantiate Con`sub·stan"ti·ate intransitive verb To profess or belive the doctrine of consubstantion.

The consubstantiating church and priest.
Dryden.

Consubstantiate Con`sub·stan"ti·ate adjective Partaking of the same substance; united; consubstantial.

We must love her [ the wife] that is thus consubstantiate with us.
Feltham.

Consubstantiation Con`sub·stan`ti·a"tion noun 1. An identity or union of substance.

2. (Theol.) The actual, substantial presence of the body of Christ with the bread and wine of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; impanation; -- opposed to transubstantiation .

» This view, held by Luther himself, was called consubstantiation by non Lutheran writers in contradistinction to transsubstantiation, the Catholic view.

Consuetude Con"sue·tude noun [ Latin consuetudo . See Custom .] Custom, habit; usage. [ R.]

To observe this consuetude or law.
Barnes .

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