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instigate
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  • At Winifred's instigation I had taken up gardening: I needed to have a hobby, she said.†   (source)
  • Were the setups meant to instigate certain conflicts or provoke reactions for WICKED's studies?†   (source)
  • There were many depictions of the suppression or elimination of peoples—Native Americans, slaves, immigrants—and always, nearby, was the artist's idea of the instigators: wealthy aristocrats in powdered wigs, generals in gleaming uniforms, businessmen with bags of money.†   (source)
  • Katherine Tyler, thou art here accused that not having the fear of God before thine eyes thou hast had familiarity with Satan the grand enemy of God and man, and that by his instigation and help thou hast in a preternatural way afflicted and done harm to the bodies and estates of sundry of His Majesty's subjects, in the third year of His Majesty's reign, for which by the law of God and the law of the Colony thou deservest to die.†   (source)
  • She is less of an instigator.†   (source)
  • Even the ones that she instigates require much handholding and goo-gawing from Nick.†   (source)
  • Those closest to the instigator seemed to be responding as color and light flowed from them toward him.†   (source)
  • Helen, once a peripheral figure in these discussions, became the epicenter, instigator, and protagonist.†   (source)
  • She instigated what happened last night.†   (source)
  • He had failed, and while his masters were particularly patient they often instigated plans that took centuries to mature their patience was now beginning to run out.†   (source)
  • At the instigation of a small group of wealthy New Yorkers, the state legislature had quietly passed a law authorizing the construction of a "speedway" on the west side of the park so that the rich could race their carriages.†   (source)
  • From the KGB's perspective, outside instigation is the far more attractive alternative; it makes for a bigger operation.†   (source)
  • The instigators of the plot, if there was one, rotted in their graves along with the secret.†   (source)
  • Her only advantage over the maze of opposition was her command of the one element that had instigated this act of the play: Eragon and Saphira.†   (source)
  • The spent oxygen bottles blighting the South Col have been accumulating since the 1950s, but thanks to an ongoing litter-removal Program instigated in 1994 by Scott Fischer's Sagar matha Environmental Expedition, there are fewer of them up there now than there used to be.†   (source)
  • Two threats of school suspension, because I was the instigator of the PE locker room fights, according to the So-Called Gym Teacher.†   (source)
  • The invaders eventually overran Attolia as well as Sounis, but the rule of Eddis has never changed hands at the instigation of an outside force.†   (source)
  • The instigator.†   (source)
  • She was also an instigator, more than happy to not only report the dish but stir it up as well.†   (source)
  • It was up to me to instigate, but when he was that repressed kid released, my whole heart wanted him to stay that way forever.†   (source)
  • He was chairman of every bond drive, he gave tedious and embarrassing talks in assembly on the War Effort, the project he instigated and viewed with most pride was a tremendous billboard he caused to be erected in the front schoolyard proclaiming that the following graduates of MCHS were in the service of their country.†   (source)
  • Riots would be instigated by thrill seekers determined to take their fear out on others rather than to seize any goods.†   (source)
  • It had already instigated debates nationwide of varying intensity on slavery.†   (source)
  • Winnie had been invited to open the annual conference of the Transvaal Indian Youth Congress, and at my instigation she repudiated these rumors in no uncertain terms.†   (source)
  • We are fully aware that the guilt in this case lies chiefly with Mr. Kenneth Danagger, who instigated this infringement of the law, who exerted pressure upon you and who confessed his guilt by disappearing in order to escape trial†   (source)
  • We decided to instigate Operation Sausage at the beginning of the term.†   (source)
  • Newly freed slaves will slaughter southern white men, rape their women and daughters, and instigate a bloodbath unlike any other in recorded history.†   (source)
  • No one knew he had instigated the shooting, or that he had even been present, and when it was announced that patrols would be increased to prevent further sniping, I hoped he would keep quiet and let the event pass.†   (source)
  • ...We have guarded their homes and property long enough, now is the time for action....The only way to put down this rebellion is to hurt the instigators and abettors of it.†   (source)
  • After all, a Jew and a Catholic in a "suicide pact" (as the Daily News termed it, in a garishly illustrated story on page three), unmarried lovers dwelling in sin, suggestive beauty and good looks, the instigator of the tragedy a young man with a history of psychotic episodes, and so on—this was the stuff of superscandal in the year 1947.†   (source)
  • And very probably, thought Stormgren, Karellen was watching the whole thing and enjoying himself hugely, for this meeting would never have taken place except at the Supervisor's instigation.†   (source)
  • CROMWELL Do you deny that you instigated it?†   (source)
  • With great feeling he chided the people of Meliuzeievo for their disorganized ways and for giving in to the disintegrating influence of the Bolsheviks, who, he said, were the real instigators of the Zybushino disorders.†   (source)
  • GROCER: Us as well ... LOGICIAN: You see, you have got away from the problem which instigated the debate.†   (source)
  • A preliminary convention of Southerners, also instigated by Calhoun, urged a full-scale convention of the South at Nashville for June of that fateful year to popularize the idea of dissolution.†   (source)
  • When the second demo was finished, Alan instigated high-fives all around, and the young people laughed at his enthusiasm.   (source)
    instigated = started or caused something to happen
  • It sounds like he didn't really instigate anything.†   (source)
  • Whoever instigated last night's events, I don't think things happened the way they wished.†   (source)
  • : ....[He] was a smart young fellow, so lithe that he would run along the top of a zigzag fence like a squirrel, or leap over a five-barred gate, rather than open or climb it...Grace was of a lively disposition and pleasant manners and may have been an object of jealousy to Nancy...There is plenty of room for the supposition that instead of her being the instigator and promoter of the terrible deeds committed, she was but the unfortunate dupe in the whole dreadful business.†   (source)
  • They had lots to say about all kinds of junk they claimed to know something about, and would drone on in an instigated way, delivering themselves of harangues and oblique sermons that were in fact — Jimmy felt — aimed at himself.†   (source)
  • He made contact with the young people in the town, who lacked political knowledge, and he embarked on a stealthy campaign of instigation.†   (source)
  • And though it pains our lord-for he knows that most of these rebellious acts are instigated by bitter and misguided leaders-we shall gently chastise the unlawful territory known as Surda and return it to the benevolent rule of King Galbatorix, he who sacrifices himself day and night for the good of his people.†   (source)
  • Rival gangs instigate riots; waterfronts become battlegrounds; warehouses, even cargo ships are blown up for revenge, or to wipe out competitors.†   (source)
  • At the instigation of the Communist Party and the Indian Congress, the convention passed a resolution for a one-day general strike, known as Freedom Day, on May 1, calling for the abolition of the pass laws and all discriminatory legislation.†   (source)
  • You want to instigate an investigation into the death of this man by your hand when you were eight years old?†   (source)
  • During the night, our fetid exhalations had condensed on the tent fabric to form a fragile, interior sheath of hoarfrost; as I sat up and began rooting around in the dark for my clothing, it was impossible not to brush against the low nylon walls, and every time I did so it instigated a blizzard inside the tent, covering everything with ice crystals.†   (source)
  • Outside five older guys were gathered and one of them, Scarfo, was doing broad jumps at the instigation of the other four.†   (source)
  • Toward the end of 1966, the Transvaal Law Society, at the instigation of the minister of justice, made a motion to strike me off the roll of practicing attorneys as a result of my conviction in the Rivonia Trial.†   (source)
  • It's up to you to instigate production ... MOTHER-JACQUES: [to her son] My son, if you want me to be proud of you, try and instigate, instigate production ...[ROBERTA looks embarrassed.]†   (source)
  • but true: Lula's woebegone and rabbity face had sulked from the pages of six metropolitan newspapers—of a crossroads storekeeper, who had instigated immediate action by an outraged daddy's appeal to the local rabble.†   (source)
  • The only time the television showed anything but static was when the suspected instigators were hanged in the square.†   (source)
  • It was still too early to see if the group working on historical research would fulfil the hopes of its instigators, who were frankly aiming at restoring mankind's pride in its own achievements.†   (source)
  • It had been something planned, prepared, and carried out at the instigation of Shangri-La.†   (source)
  • Did you know that your employer, Mr. Ratchett, was the principal instigator in that affair?†   (source)
  • -6o4) was born of noble twins who at the instigation of the devil had committed incest.†   (source)
  • It was common talk that Padre Martínez had instigated the revolt of the Taos Indians five years ago, when Bent, the American Governor, and a dozen other white men were murdered and scalped.†   (source)
  • When the child, however, at the instigation of the devil, one day had stood staring at a lady for some time, suddenly he blushed for himself, and entered the icy water of a pond in penance, where he remained until frozen to his bones.†   (source)
  • It should have been all; that afternoon four years later should have happened the next day, the four years, the interval, mere and-climax: an attenuation and prolongation of a conclusion already ripe to happen, by the War, by a stupid and bloody aberration in the high (and impossible) destiny of the United States, maybe instigated by that family fatality which possessed, along with all circumstance, that curious lack of economy between cause and effect which is always a characteristic of fate when reduced to using human beings for tools, material.†   (source)
  • The striking Union of Wynand Employees issued a protest against acts of violence; the Union had not instigated them; most of its members did not know who had.†   (source)
  • I was to be given to the wolves, and at my own instigation.†   (source)
  • An average woman is in this superior to an average man—that she never instigates, only responds.†   (source)
  • And the thrill was not limited to the person who instigated it.†   (source)
  • Dene's killing of Martin Cole was believed to have been at Holderness's instigation.†   (source)
  • Take the whole situation all around, it was one of the gaudiest effects I ever instigated.†   (source)
  • Who had been the actual instigator could not be determined afterward.†   (source)
  • The young people, at the countess' instigation, gathered round the clavichord and harp.†   (source)
  • Yet why the sight of him should have instigated that sudden rush of blood she could not tell.†   (source)
  • He could not have exaggerated them, except at your instigation.†   (source)
  • Mr. Mayor, I have come to request you to instigate the authorities to dismiss me.†   (source)
  • You lay stress on his coming at your instigation.†   (source)
  • He was close enough to see this, and the sight instigated his tongue.†   (source)
  • He pushed back his chair, took his hat from the nail, and marched out with Emil, who, with his university ideas, was supposed to have instigated the silo.†   (source)
  • As he walked his pace showed perturbation, and by-and-by, as if instigated by a former thought, he drew from his pocket a small book, between the leaves of which was folded a letter, worn and soiled, as from much re-reading.†   (source)
  • At the instigation of Tchebaroff and his other friends, he decided to make the attempt in the service of truth, progress, and humanity.†   (source)
  • But having the temperament of a spider that spins a web for flies, she foresaw that this might involve the possiblity of Louise's explaining to Clyde or Ratterer that it was Hortense who had instigated the party.†   (source)
  • It was at his instigation that Mrs. Highcamp called to ask her to go with them to the Jockey Club to witness the turf event of the season.†   (source)
  • Plummer was a sheriff in Idaho, a man high in the estimation of his townspeople, but he was the leader of the most desperate band of criminals ever known in the West; and he instigated the murder of, or killed outright, more than one hundred men.†   (source)
  • In the first instance, because of the disappearance of a boat and an apparently happy and attractive couple bent on sight-seeing, an early morning search, instigated by the inn-keeper of this region, had revealed, in Moon Cove, the presence of the overturned canoe, also the hat and veil.†   (source)
  • And although this chapter of our story might, like an earlier one, bear the title "Someone Else," no one need worry that yet another instigator of intellectual and pedagogic confusion has now made an appearance.†   (source)
  • She knew his back immediately, though she had never seen it; for when he had left her, at Marian's instigation, he had retreated in the best order, without turning round.†   (source)
  • She was the instigator.†   (source)
  • X The Pyncheon Garden CLIFFORD, except for Phoebe's More active instigation would ordinarily have yielded to the torpor which had crept through all his modes of being, and which sluggishly counselled him to sit in his morning chair till eventide.†   (source)
  • A gleam of resentment flashed across the dark lineaments of the Mohican chief; he loosened his knife in his sheath; and then turning calmly from the sight, his countenance settled into a repose as deep as if he knew the instigation of passion.†   (source)
  • — unjust!" said my reason, forced by the agonising stimulus into precocious though transitory power: and Resolve, equally wrought up, instigated some strange expedient to achieve escape from insupportable oppression — as running away, or, if that could not be effected, never eating or drinking more, and letting myself die.†   (source)
  • The deputation, though it had been summoned at Alexey Alexandrovitch's instigation, was not without its discomforting and even dangerous aspect, and he was glad he had found it in Moscow.†   (source)
  • Even if you were really criminal, for that can only drive you to desperation, and not instigate you to virtue.†   (source)
  • But the Earl of Camelot, of the reign of Charles, returned to the old creed of his family, and they continued to fight for it, and ruin themselves for it, as long as there was a Stuart left to head or to instigate a rebellion.†   (source)
  • Bassompierre and Schomberg were marshals of France, and claimed their right of commanding the army under the orders of the king; but the cardinal, who feared that Bassompierre, a Huguenot at heart, might press but feebly the English and Rochellais, his brothers in religion, supported the Duc d'Angouleme, whom the king, at his instigation, had named lieutenant general.†   (source)
  • Mrs. Cadwallader was strong on the intended creation of peers: she had it for certain from her cousin that Truberry had gone over to the other side entirely at the instigation of his wife, who had scented peerages in the air from the very first introduction of the Reform question, and would sign her soul away to take precedence of her younger sister, who had married a baronet.†   (source)
  • I was exceedingly anxious about Fanny, and Peter too, who was running a tremendous risk at my instigation.†   (source)
  • On the other hand, Hutter and Hurry, who had been chiefly instigated by the basest of all human motives, the thirst of gain, could scarce control their feelings.†   (source)
  • On the contrary, it seemed, that mainly at Steelkilt's instigation, they had resolved to maintain the strictest peacefulness, obey all orders to the last, and, when the ship reached port, desert her in a body.†   (source)
  • They took their cheerful rides in the fine mornings of April and May; and Fanny either sat at home the whole day with one aunt, or walked beyond her strength at the instigation of the other: Lady Bertram holding exercise to be as unnecessary for everybody as it was unpleasant to herself; and Mrs. Norris, who was walking all day, thinking everybody ought to walk as much.†   (source)
  • 'Oh, you are going to perform an act of heroic virtue: to confess you murdered your father, that the valet murdered him at your instigation.'†   (source)
  • If I appear, then thou diest, even although thy charms should instigate some hot-headed youth to enter the lists in thy defence.†   (source)
  • At that very time, in circumstances even more important than retreating without a battle, namely the evacuation and burning of Moscow, Rostopchin, who is usually represented as being the instigator of that event, acted in an altogether different manner from Kutuzov.†   (source)
  • Madame de Villefort, in spite of all the remarks which she considered it her duty to make, secretly approved of the proposition, my father consented to it at her instigation, and it was only on account of my poor grandfather that I finally abandoned the project.†   (source)
  • Supposing that he did agree, it would still follow that Dmitri Karamazov is the murderer and the instigator, and Smerdyakov is only a passive accomplice, and not even an accomplice, but merely acquiesced against his will through terror.†   (source)
  • It chanced that a worthy cure, I know not whether it was the cure of Couloubroux or the cure of Pompierry, took it into his head to ask him one day, probably at the instigation of Madame Magloire, whether Monsieur was sure that he was not committing an indiscretion, to a certain extent, in leaving his door unfastened day and night, at the mercy of any one who should choose to enter, and whether, in short, he did not fear lest some misfortune might occur in a house so little guarded.†   (source)
  • It was, however, the general belief that no one could or would appear for a Jewess, accused of sorcery; and the knights, instigated by Malvoisin, whispered to each other, that it was time to declare the pledge of Rebecca forfeited.†   (source)
  • After a slight repose, during which the spirits of the dead hovered round and instigated me to toil and revenge, I prepared for my journey.†   (source)
  • Sometimes, indeed, he left marks in writing on the barks of the trees or cut in stone that guided me and instigated my fury.†   (source)
  • "Madam, madam, this incident does not reflect upon you!" he cried impressively, "no one would take upon himself to accuse you of being an instigator or even an accomplice in it, especially as you have proved her guilt by turning out her pockets, showing that you had no previous idea of it.†   (source)
  • He paused, looking on me with wonder, and again turning towards the lifeless form of his creator, he seemed to forget my presence, and every feature and gesture seemed instigated by the wildest rage of some uncontrollable passion.†   (source)
  • By whom can he have been instigated?†   (source)
  • He cannot be the instigator of the three villains in horsemen's greatcoats, by whom she will hereafter be forced into a traveling-chaise and four, which will drive off with incredible speed.†   (source)
  • The government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives.†   (source)
  • They passed some months in great happiness at Dawlish; for she had many relations and old acquaintances to cut—and he drew several plans for magnificent cottages;— and from thence returning to town, procured the forgiveness of Mrs. Ferrars, by the simple expedient of asking it, which, at Lucy's instigation, was adopted.†   (source)
  • I suspect a hoax is intended, but the instigators of it little knew whom they had to deal with.†   (source)
  • If you believe the witnesses, in their construction of the acts of the prisoner, it is your duty to convict him; but if you believe that the old man, who this day appears before you, meant not to harm the constable, but was acting more under the influence of habit than by the instigations of malice, it will be your duty to judge him, but to do it with lenity" As before, the jury did not leave their box; but, after a consultation of some little time, their foreman arose, and pronounced the prisoner Guilty.†   (source)
  • Such instigations have been often dropped   (source)
    instigations = things started
  • at his heels a rabble of his companions, thither provoked and instigated by his distemper,   (source)
    instigated = set into motion
  • At Stephen's suggestion, at Bloom's instigation both, first Stephen, then Bloom, in penumbra urinated, their sides contiguous, their organs of micturition reciprocally rendered invisible by manual circumposition, their gazes, first Bloom's, then Stephen's, elevated to the projected luminous and semiluminous shadow.†   (source)
  • Indian hostilities, instigated by Spain or Britain, would always be at hand.†   (source)
  • Why, what need we Commune with you of this, but rather follow Our forceful instigation?†   (source)
  • For this, consorted with the citizens, Your very worshipful and loving friends, And, by their vehement instigation, In this just cause come I to move your grace.†   (source)
  • And as to other Princes and States, because they are not parts of one and the same congregation, they need not any other sentence to keep them from keeping company with the State Excommunicate: for the very Institution, as it uniteth many men into one Community; so it dissociateth one Community from another: so that Excommunication is not needfull for keeping Kings and States asunder; nor has any further effect then is in the nature of Policy it selfe; unlesse it be to instigate Princes to warre upon one another.†   (source)
  • It was strictly enjoined, that the project of starving you by degrees should be kept a secret; but the sentence of putting out your eyes was entered on the books; none dissenting, except Bolgolam the admiral, who, being a creature of the empress, was perpetually instigated by her majesty to insist upon your death, she having borne perpetual malice against you, on account of that infamous and illegal method you took to extinguish the fire in her apartment.†   (source)
  • But it is easy to see, that it would require an uncommon portion of fortitude in the judges to do their duty as faithful guardians of the Constitution, where legislative invasions of it had been instigated by the major voice of the community.†   (source)
  • contained by fluxion in the final solution), the upholding of the letter of the law (common, statute and law merchant) against all traversers in covin and trespassers acting in contravention of bylaws and regulations, all resuscitators (by trespass and petty larceny of kindlings) of venville rights, obsolete by desuetude, all orotund instigators of international persecution, all perpetuators of international animosities, all menial molestors of domestic conviviality, all recalcitrant violators of domestic connubiality.†   (source)
  • The suggestions of wounded pride, the instigations of irritated resentment, would be apt to carry the States against which the arms of the Union were exerted, to any extremes necessary to avenge the affront or to avoid the disgrace of submission.†   (source)
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