different between instigator vs instigate

English

Etymology

From Latin inst?g?tor (“stimulator”), from instig?re (present infinitive of ?nst?g? (“to incite, set on, stimulate, rouse or urge”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to be sharp, to stab; to puncture; to goad”)) + -or (from -? (“suffix forming masculine agent nouns”), from Proto-Indo-European *-h?onh?- (“suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden”)); cognate with French instigateur.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??nst??e?t?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??nst???e?t?/, /-??/
• Hyphenation: in?sti?gat?or

Noun

instigator (plural instigators)

1. A person who intentionally instigates, incites, or starts something, especially one that creates trouble.
   • 1964, Albert Pepitone, “The Reaction to Boastfulness”, in Attraction and Hostility: An Experimental Analysis of Interpersonal and Self Evaluation (The Atherton Press Behavioral Science Series), New York, N.Y.: Atherton Press, OCLC 490312942; reprinted New Brunswick, N.J.: Aldine Transaction, Transaction Publishers, 2009, ?ISBN, page 77:

     In studies designed to arouse aggression, the instigator often not only threatens the subject, but also expresses an extremely high self-evaluation. Subjects are insulted about their intelligence, sexual attractiveness, and character, and, at the same time, the instigator implies or explicitly describes his own superiority in these respects.

Alternative forms

• instigatour (obsolete, rare)

Synonyms

• inciter
• initiator
• troublemaker

Related terms

• instigate
• instigation

Translations

Latin

Verb

?nst?g?tor

1. second-person singular future passive imperative of ?nst?g?
2. third-person singular future passive imperative of ?nst?g?

References

• instigator in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• instigator in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• instigator in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• instigator in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette

Romanian

Etymology

From French instigateur

Noun

instigator m (plural instigatori)

1. instigator

Declension

English

Etymology

From the Latin ?nst?g?tus, past participle of ?nst?g?re (“to instigate”), from prefix in- (“in”) + *stigare, akin to stinguere (“push, goad”). Compare German stechen (“to prick”), English stick.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??nst??e?t/

Verb

instigate (third-person singular simple present instigates, present participle instigating, simple past and past participle instigated)

1. (transitive) to incite; to bring about by urging or encouraging
   • 2017, Desa Markovic, Working with Sexual Issues in Psychotherapy

     If the man perceives that his partner has arousal or orgasmic difficulties, this is likely to influence his desire to instigate sexual activity and/or his enjoyment and pleasure in being sexual with his partner.

2. (transitive) to goad or urge (a person) forward, especially to wicked actions; to provoke
   • 1678, Robert Barclay, An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

     he might instigate them to swear against the law of God

   • 1738-1741, William Warburton, Divine Legation of Moses demonstrated on the Principles of a Religious Deist

     He hath only instigated his blackest agents to the very extent of their malignity.

   Synonyms: animate, encourage, impel, incite, provoke, spur, stimulate, tempt, urge

   Antonyms: halt, prevent, stop

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• instigate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• instigate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Esperanto

Adverb

instigate

1. present adverbial passive participle of instigi

Latin

Verb

?nst?g?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of ?nst?g?