"instigator" meaning in English

See instigator in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtə/ [Received-Pronunciation], /ˈɪnstəˌɡeɪtɚ/ [General-American], /-ɾɚ/ [General-American] Audio: en-uk-instigator.ogg , en-au-instigator.ogg Forms: instigators [plural]
Etymology: From Latin īnstīgātor (“stimulator”), from īnstīgāre (present infinitive of īnstīgō (“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 -ō (suffix forming masculine agent nouns), from Proto-Indo-European *-h₃onh₂- (suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden)); cognate with French instigateur. Etymology templates: {{der|en|la|īnstīgātor||stimulator}} Latin īnstīgātor (“stimulator”), {{der|en|ine-pro|*(s)teyg-||to be sharp, to stab; to puncture; to goad}} Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to be sharp, to stab; to puncture; to goad”), {{der|en|ine-pro|*-h₃onh₂-|pos=suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden}} Proto-Indo-European *-h₃onh₂- (suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden), {{cog|fr|instigateur}} French instigateur Head templates: {{en-noun}} instigator (plural instigators)
  1. A person who intentionally instigates, incites, or starts something, especially one that creates trouble. Categories (topical): People Synonyms: instigatour [obsolete, rare], inciter, initiator, troublemaker Related terms: instigate, instigation Translations (person who intentionally instigates something): مُحَرِّض (muḥarriḍ) [masculine] (Arabic), مُحَرِّضَة (muḥarriḍa) [feminine] (Arabic), սադրիչ (sadričʻ) (Armenian), падбухто́ршчык (padbuxtórščyk) [masculine] (Belarusian), падбухто́ршчыца (padbuxtórščyca) [feminine] (Belarusian), подстрека́тел (podstrekátel) [masculine] (Bulgarian), подстрека́телка (podstrekátelka) [feminine] (Bulgarian), 煽動者 (Chinese Mandarin), 煽动者 (shāndòngzhě) (Chinese Mandarin), 教唆犯 (jiàosuōfàn) (Chinese Mandarin), podněcovatel [masculine] (Czech), podněcovatelka [feminine] (Czech), anstifter [common-gender] (Danish), aanstichter [masculine] (Dutch), aloitteentekijä (Finnish), aloittaja (Finnish), instigateur [masculine] (French), instigatrice [feminine] (French), incitateur [masculine] (French), incitatrice [feminine] (French), Anstifter [masculine] (German), Anstifterin [feminine] (German), Aufwiegler [masculine] (German), Aufwieglerin [feminine] (German), istigatore [masculine] (Italian), istigatrice [feminine] (Italian), 扇動者 (sendōsha) (alt: せんどうしゃ) (Japanese), 教唆者 (kyōsasha) (alt: きょうさしゃ) (Japanese), 선동자 (seondongja) (alt: 煽動者) (Korean), impulsor [masculine] (Latin), impulstrīx [feminine] (Latin), kaiwhakaara (Maori), Aunfiera [masculine] (Plautdietsch), podżegacz [masculine] (Polish), podżegaczka [feminine] (Polish), instigador [masculine] (Portuguese), incitadora (es) [feminine] (Portuguese), instigante [feminine, masculine] (Portuguese), подстрека́тель (podstrekátelʹ) [masculine] (Russian), подстрека́тельница (podstrekátelʹnica) [feminine] (Russian), зачи́нщик (začínščik) [masculine] (Russian), зачи́нщица (začínščica) [feminine] (Russian), podnecovateľ [masculine] (Slovak), podnecovateľka [feminine] (Slovak), instigador [masculine] (Spanish), instigadora [feminine] (Spanish), incitador [masculine] (Spanish), incitadora [feminine] (Spanish), anstiftare [common-gender] (Swedish), fitneci (Turkish), kışkırtıcı (Turkish), підбу́рювач (pidbúrjuvač) [masculine] (Ukrainian), підбу́рювачка (pidbúrjuvačka) [feminine] (Ukrainian)

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "īnstīgātor",
        "4": "",
        "5": "stimulator"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin īnstīgātor (“stimulator”)",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*(s)teyg-",
        "4": "",
        "5": "to be sharp, to stab; to puncture; to goad"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to be sharp, to stab; to puncture; to goad”)",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*-h₃onh₂-",
        "pos": "suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *-h₃onh₂- (suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden)",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fr",
        "2": "instigateur"
      },
      "expansion": "French instigateur",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Latin īnstīgātor (“stimulator”), from īnstīgāre (present infinitive of īnstīgō (“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 -ō (suffix forming masculine agent nouns), from Proto-Indo-European *-h₃onh₂- (suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden)); cognate with French instigateur.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "instigators",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "instigator (plural instigators)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "in‧sti‧gat‧or"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with redundant transliterations",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 3 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Arabic translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Armenian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Belarusian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Czech translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Danish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Dutch translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Italian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Japanese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Korean translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Latin translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Mandarin translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Maori translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Plautdietsch translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Slovak translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Turkish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Ukrainian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "People",
          "orig": "en:People",
          "parents": [
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1606, Edvvard Forset [i.e., Edward Forsett], “An Examination of a Position Published by P. R. in the Preface of His Treatise, Tending to Mitigation, Concerning the Lawfullnesse of the Popes Power ouer Princes: With a Defence of the Oath of Allegiance”, in A Comparative Discovrse of the Bodies Natvral and Politique. Wherein out of the Principles of Nature, is Set Forth the True Forme of a Commonweale, with the Dutie of Subiects, and the Right of the Soueraigne: Together with Many Good Points of Politicall Learning, Mentioned in a Briefe after the Preface, London: Printed for Iohn Bill, →OCLC, page 92:",
          "text": "[T]he Pope doth not keepe his quarter, but will needs breake forth of the rayles and limits of that diſtinction, taking vpon him to be authorized alſo temporally, and that, for the ſuppreſſion and ſubverſion of the Civill Soveraignity, […] whence muſt neceſſarily ariſe either privie complottings, or open attempts, in favour of their opinions, and in furtherance of their deſires, which how farre it will extend, and into how deepe degrees it vſeth to grow, many ſorowfull and fearefull examples hath in this Realme demonſtratively declared vnto vs, to every whereof Papacy hath beene the ſtirrer and inſtigator.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1648, John Owen, “An Answer, to the Twentieth Chapter of the Booke Intituled, The Universality of Gods Free Grace, &c. being a Collection of All the Arguments Used by the Author, throughout the whole Booke to Proove the Universality of Redemption”, in Salus Electorum, Sanguis Jesu; or the Death of Death in the Death of Christ. A Treatise of the Redemption and Reconciliation that is in the Blood of Christ with the Merit thereof, and the Satisfaction Wrought thereby. …, London: Printed by W. W. for Philemon Stephens; and are to be sold at his shop at the Golden Lyon in St Pauls Church-yard, →OCLC, book IV, page 279:",
          "text": "[H]e [Jesus Christ] whom they deſpiſed as the Carpenters Sonne and bad come downe from the Croſſe, if he could, is exalted to the right hand of God, having all judgement committed to him, having before hand in his death, judged, ſentenced, & overcom Sathan the Prince of this World, the chief inſtigatour of his crucifiers, who had the power of death.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1950 March, Eric S. Tonks, “The Whitacre—Hampton-in-Arden Line, L.M.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 187:",
          "text": "The author (obviously a naturalist of no mean order) received an official rap over the knuckles for trespassing, and for encouraging others to do so. Evidently the instigator of this reprimand had not visited the railway in blackberry time!",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "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, page 77",
          "text": "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."
        },
        {
          "ref": "1978 December 23, Nancy Walker, “Bah! Humbug!”, in Gay Community News, volume 6, number 22, page 16:",
          "text": "I love my lover. I do not want to be the instigator of anguish for her.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, Erik A. Fisher, Steven W. Sharp, “The Players”, in The Art of Managing Everyday Conflict: Understanding Emotions and Power Struggles, Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishing, Greenwood Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 55:",
          "text": "The instigator has the power to start the conflict. The person instigating the conflict always seeks power in some form. That is why they are starting the fight. […] An example of this is a child who tells two different kids that they are saying things about each other. This then starts a fight between the two kids, and the instigator gets to watch the fireworks. The instigator likes to feel the power of seeing the other two kids fight. In some cases, the instigator may want to redirect attention away from him- or herself and onto someone else.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, Daniel McCool, “Crumbling Edifice”, in River Republic: The Fall and Rise of America's Rivers, New York, N.Y., Chichester, West Sussex: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page 12:",
          "text": "Although each [river] restoration is unique, the genesis of most projects appears to center on a singular sort of individual that I have come to call \"the instigator.\" Instigators are typically average Americans, quite often from a background that we would not consider a position of power. They are \"housewives,\" students, small business people, retired persons, or a local politician or government administrator.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A person who intentionally instigates, incites, or starts something, especially one that creates trouble."
      ],
      "id": "en-instigator-en-noun-aOPsLqJj",
      "links": [
        [
          "intentionally",
          "intentionally"
        ],
        [
          "instigate",
          "instigate"
        ],
        [
          "incite",
          "incite"
        ],
        [
          "starts",
          "start#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "create",
          "create"
        ],
        [
          "trouble",
          "trouble"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "word": "instigate"
        },
        {
          "word": "instigation"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "obsolete",
            "rare"
          ],
          "word": "instigatour"
        },
        {
          "word": "inciter"
        },
        {
          "word": "initiator"
        },
        {
          "word": "troublemaker"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "muḥarriḍ",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "مُحَرِّض"
        },
        {
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "muḥarriḍa",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "مُحَرِّضَة"
        },
        {
          "code": "hy",
          "lang": "Armenian",
          "roman": "sadričʻ",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "սադրիչ"
        },
        {
          "code": "be",
          "lang": "Belarusian",
          "roman": "padbuxtórščyk",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "падбухто́ршчык"
        },
        {
          "code": "be",
          "lang": "Belarusian",
          "roman": "padbuxtórščyca",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "падбухто́ршчыца"
        },
        {
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "podstrekátel",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "подстрека́тел"
        },
        {
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "podstrekátelka",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "подстрека́телка"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "煽動者"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "shāndòngzhě",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "煽动者"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "jiàosuōfàn",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "教唆犯"
        },
        {
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "podněcovatel"
        },
        {
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "podněcovatelka"
        },
        {
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "anstifter"
        },
        {
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "aanstichter"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "aloitteentekijä"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "aloittaja"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "instigateur"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "instigatrice"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "incitateur"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "incitatrice"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Anstifter"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Anstifterin"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Aufwiegler"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Aufwieglerin"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "istigatore"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "istigatrice"
        },
        {
          "alt": "せんどうしゃ",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "sendōsha",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "扇動者"
        },
        {
          "alt": "きょうさしゃ",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "kyōsasha",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "教唆者"
        },
        {
          "alt": "煽動者",
          "code": "ko",
          "lang": "Korean",
          "roman": "seondongja",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "선동자"
        },
        {
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "impulsor"
        },
        {
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "impulstrīx"
        },
        {
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "kaiwhakaara"
        },
        {
          "code": "pdt",
          "lang": "Plautdietsch",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Aunfiera"
        },
        {
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "podżegacz"
        },
        {
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "podżegaczka"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "instigador"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "incitadora (es)"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "instigante"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "podstrekátelʹ",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "подстрека́тель"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "podstrekátelʹnica",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "подстрека́тельница"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "začínščik",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "зачи́нщик"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "začínščica",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "зачи́нщица"
        },
        {
          "code": "sk",
          "lang": "Slovak",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "podnecovateľ"
        },
        {
          "code": "sk",
          "lang": "Slovak",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "podnecovateľka"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "instigador"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "instigadora"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "incitador"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "incitadora"
        },
        {
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "anstiftare"
        },
        {
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "fitneci"
        },
        {
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "word": "kışkırtıcı"
        },
        {
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "pidbúrjuvač",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "підбу́рювач"
        },
        {
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "pidbúrjuvačka",
          "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "підбу́рювачка"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtə/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-uk-instigator.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/84/En-uk-instigator.ogg/En-uk-instigator.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/En-uk-instigator.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɪnstəˌɡeɪtɚ/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/-ɾɚ/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-instigator.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/e1/En-au-instigator.ogg/En-au-instigator.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/En-au-instigator.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "word": "instigator"
}
{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "īnstīgātor",
        "4": "",
        "5": "stimulator"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin īnstīgātor (“stimulator”)",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*(s)teyg-",
        "4": "",
        "5": "to be sharp, to stab; to puncture; to goad"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to be sharp, to stab; to puncture; to goad”)",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*-h₃onh₂-",
        "pos": "suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *-h₃onh₂- (suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden)",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fr",
        "2": "instigateur"
      },
      "expansion": "French instigateur",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Latin īnstīgātor (“stimulator”), from īnstīgāre (present infinitive of īnstīgō (“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 -ō (suffix forming masculine agent nouns), from Proto-Indo-European *-h₃onh₂- (suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden)); cognate with French instigateur.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "instigators",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "instigator (plural instigators)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "in‧sti‧gat‧or"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "instigate"
    },
    {
      "word": "instigation"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English countable nouns",
        "English entries with incorrect language header",
        "English lemmas",
        "English nouns",
        "English terms derived from Latin",
        "English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Entries with translation boxes",
        "Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations",
        "Pages with 3 entries",
        "Pages with entries",
        "Terms with Arabic translations",
        "Terms with Armenian translations",
        "Terms with Belarusian translations",
        "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
        "Terms with Czech translations",
        "Terms with Danish translations",
        "Terms with Dutch translations",
        "Terms with Finnish translations",
        "Terms with French translations",
        "Terms with German translations",
        "Terms with Italian translations",
        "Terms with Japanese translations",
        "Terms with Korean translations",
        "Terms with Latin translations",
        "Terms with Mandarin translations",
        "Terms with Maori translations",
        "Terms with Plautdietsch translations",
        "Terms with Polish translations",
        "Terms with Portuguese translations",
        "Terms with Russian translations",
        "Terms with Slovak translations",
        "Terms with Spanish translations",
        "Terms with Swedish translations",
        "Terms with Turkish translations",
        "Terms with Ukrainian translations",
        "en:People"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1606, Edvvard Forset [i.e., Edward Forsett], “An Examination of a Position Published by P. R. in the Preface of His Treatise, Tending to Mitigation, Concerning the Lawfullnesse of the Popes Power ouer Princes: With a Defence of the Oath of Allegiance”, in A Comparative Discovrse of the Bodies Natvral and Politique. Wherein out of the Principles of Nature, is Set Forth the True Forme of a Commonweale, with the Dutie of Subiects, and the Right of the Soueraigne: Together with Many Good Points of Politicall Learning, Mentioned in a Briefe after the Preface, London: Printed for Iohn Bill, →OCLC, page 92:",
          "text": "[T]he Pope doth not keepe his quarter, but will needs breake forth of the rayles and limits of that diſtinction, taking vpon him to be authorized alſo temporally, and that, for the ſuppreſſion and ſubverſion of the Civill Soveraignity, […] whence muſt neceſſarily ariſe either privie complottings, or open attempts, in favour of their opinions, and in furtherance of their deſires, which how farre it will extend, and into how deepe degrees it vſeth to grow, many ſorowfull and fearefull examples hath in this Realme demonſtratively declared vnto vs, to every whereof Papacy hath beene the ſtirrer and inſtigator.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1648, John Owen, “An Answer, to the Twentieth Chapter of the Booke Intituled, The Universality of Gods Free Grace, &c. being a Collection of All the Arguments Used by the Author, throughout the whole Booke to Proove the Universality of Redemption”, in Salus Electorum, Sanguis Jesu; or the Death of Death in the Death of Christ. A Treatise of the Redemption and Reconciliation that is in the Blood of Christ with the Merit thereof, and the Satisfaction Wrought thereby. …, London: Printed by W. W. for Philemon Stephens; and are to be sold at his shop at the Golden Lyon in St Pauls Church-yard, →OCLC, book IV, page 279:",
          "text": "[H]e [Jesus Christ] whom they deſpiſed as the Carpenters Sonne and bad come downe from the Croſſe, if he could, is exalted to the right hand of God, having all judgement committed to him, having before hand in his death, judged, ſentenced, & overcom Sathan the Prince of this World, the chief inſtigatour of his crucifiers, who had the power of death.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1950 March, Eric S. Tonks, “The Whitacre—Hampton-in-Arden Line, L.M.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 187:",
          "text": "The author (obviously a naturalist of no mean order) received an official rap over the knuckles for trespassing, and for encouraging others to do so. Evidently the instigator of this reprimand had not visited the railway in blackberry time!",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "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, page 77",
          "text": "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."
        },
        {
          "ref": "1978 December 23, Nancy Walker, “Bah! Humbug!”, in Gay Community News, volume 6, number 22, page 16:",
          "text": "I love my lover. I do not want to be the instigator of anguish for her.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, Erik A. Fisher, Steven W. Sharp, “The Players”, in The Art of Managing Everyday Conflict: Understanding Emotions and Power Struggles, Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishing, Greenwood Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 55:",
          "text": "The instigator has the power to start the conflict. The person instigating the conflict always seeks power in some form. That is why they are starting the fight. […] An example of this is a child who tells two different kids that they are saying things about each other. This then starts a fight between the two kids, and the instigator gets to watch the fireworks. The instigator likes to feel the power of seeing the other two kids fight. In some cases, the instigator may want to redirect attention away from him- or herself and onto someone else.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, Daniel McCool, “Crumbling Edifice”, in River Republic: The Fall and Rise of America's Rivers, New York, N.Y., Chichester, West Sussex: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page 12:",
          "text": "Although each [river] restoration is unique, the genesis of most projects appears to center on a singular sort of individual that I have come to call \"the instigator.\" Instigators are typically average Americans, quite often from a background that we would not consider a position of power. They are \"housewives,\" students, small business people, retired persons, or a local politician or government administrator.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A person who intentionally instigates, incites, or starts something, especially one that creates trouble."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "intentionally",
          "intentionally"
        ],
        [
          "instigate",
          "instigate"
        ],
        [
          "incite",
          "incite"
        ],
        [
          "starts",
          "start#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "create",
          "create"
        ],
        [
          "trouble",
          "trouble"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtə/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-uk-instigator.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/84/En-uk-instigator.ogg/En-uk-instigator.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/En-uk-instigator.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɪnstəˌɡeɪtɚ/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/-ɾɚ/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-instigator.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/e1/En-au-instigator.ogg/En-au-instigator.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/En-au-instigator.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "obsolete",
        "rare"
      ],
      "word": "instigatour"
    },
    {
      "word": "inciter"
    },
    {
      "word": "initiator"
    },
    {
      "word": "troublemaker"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "muḥarriḍ",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "مُحَرِّض"
    },
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "muḥarriḍa",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "مُحَرِّضَة"
    },
    {
      "code": "hy",
      "lang": "Armenian",
      "roman": "sadričʻ",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "սադրիչ"
    },
    {
      "code": "be",
      "lang": "Belarusian",
      "roman": "padbuxtórščyk",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "падбухто́ршчык"
    },
    {
      "code": "be",
      "lang": "Belarusian",
      "roman": "padbuxtórščyca",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "падбухто́ршчыца"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "podstrekátel",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "подстрека́тел"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "podstrekátelka",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "подстрека́телка"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "煽動者"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "shāndòngzhě",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "煽动者"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "jiàosuōfàn",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "教唆犯"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "podněcovatel"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "podněcovatelka"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "anstifter"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "aanstichter"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "aloitteentekijä"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "aloittaja"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "instigateur"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "instigatrice"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "incitateur"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "incitatrice"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Anstifter"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Anstifterin"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Aufwiegler"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Aufwieglerin"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "istigatore"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "istigatrice"
    },
    {
      "alt": "せんどうしゃ",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "sendōsha",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "扇動者"
    },
    {
      "alt": "きょうさしゃ",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "kyōsasha",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "教唆者"
    },
    {
      "alt": "煽動者",
      "code": "ko",
      "lang": "Korean",
      "roman": "seondongja",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "선동자"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "impulsor"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "impulstrīx"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "kaiwhakaara"
    },
    {
      "code": "pdt",
      "lang": "Plautdietsch",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Aunfiera"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "podżegacz"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "podżegaczka"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "instigador"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "incitadora (es)"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "instigante"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "podstrekátelʹ",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "подстрека́тель"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "podstrekátelʹnica",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "подстрека́тельница"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "začínščik",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "зачи́нщик"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "začínščica",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "зачи́нщица"
    },
    {
      "code": "sk",
      "lang": "Slovak",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "podnecovateľ"
    },
    {
      "code": "sk",
      "lang": "Slovak",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "podnecovateľka"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "instigador"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "instigadora"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "incitador"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "incitadora"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "anstiftare"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "fitneci"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "word": "kışkırtıcı"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "pidbúrjuvač",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "підбу́рювач"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "pidbúrjuvačka",
      "sense": "person who intentionally instigates something",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "підбу́рювачка"
    }
  ],
  "word": "instigator"
}

Download raw JSONL data for instigator meaning in English (16.5kB)

{
  "called_from": "page/2386",
  "msg": "inconsistent language codes pt vs es in translation item: 't+' {1: 'es', 2: 'incitadora', 3: 'f'}",
  "path": [
    "instigator",
    "Template:t+",
    "TEMPLATE_FN"
  ],
  "section": "English",
  "subsection": "noun",
  "title": "instigator",
  "trace": ""
}

{
  "called_from": "page/2386",
  "msg": "inconsistent language codes es vs pt in translation item: 't' {1: 'pt', 2: 'instigante', 3: 'm', 4: 'f'}",
  "path": [
    "instigator",
    "Template:t",
    "TEMPLATE_FN"
  ],
  "section": "English",
  "subsection": "noun",
  "title": "instigator",
  "trace": ""
}

{
  "called_from": "form_descriptions/2013",
  "msg": "more than one value in \"roman\": ringleader vs. začínščica",
  "path": [
    "instigator"
  ],
  "section": "English",
  "subsection": "noun",
  "title": "instigator",
  "trace": ""
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-21 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (d8cb2f3 and 4e554ae). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.