instrument

instrument
\ \ [13] Instrument comes from the same source as instruct: the Latin verb instruere ‘build, prepare, equip, teach’. From it was derived the noun instrūmentum, which meant ‘tool, equipment’. When introduced into English via Old French at the end of the 13th century it was used for a ‘musical instrument’, but the more general ‘implement’ and the metaphorical ‘means’ soon followed in the 14th century.
\ \ Cf.⇒ CONSTRUCT, DESTROY, INSTRUCT, STRUCTURE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • instrument — [ ɛ̃strymɑ̃ ] n. m. • 1365; estrument v. 1119; lat. instrumentum « ce qui sert à équiper », de instruere → instruire I ♦ 1 ♦ Objet fabriqué servant à exécuter qqch., à faire une opération. REM. Instrument est plus général et moins concret que… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • instrument — in·stru·ment n 1: a means or implement by which something is achieved, performed, or furthered an instrument of crime 2: a document (as a deed, will, bond, note, certificate of deposit, insurance policy, warrant, or writ) evidencing rights or… …   Law dictionary

  • instrument — INSTRUMÉNT, instrumente, s.n. 1. Unealtă, aparat cu ajutorul căruia se efectuează o anumită operaţie. ♦ Aparat construit pentru a produce sunete muzicale. 2. fig. Persoană, forţă, lucru, fapt de care se serveşte cineva pentru atingerea unui scop …   Dicționar Român

  • instrument — INSTRUMENT. s. m. Outil, ce qui sert à l ouvrier, à l artisan pour faire manuellement quelque chose. Bon instrument. instrument necessaire. instrument de Chirurgie. instruments de Charpentier, de Maçon &c. un ouvrier fourni de tous ses… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Instrument — may refer to:* Instrument (film) * Instruments (band), a Canadian recording ensemble * Instruments (application), a performance visualizer;Types of instruments * Musical instrument, a device designed to produce music * Financial instrument, a… …   Wikipedia

  • Instrument — Instrument, und teils analog der Sammelbegriff Instrumentarium, steht: allgemein, im technischen und übertragenen Sinne, für ein Werkzeug für Musikinstrument, ein Gerät zur Erzeugung von Klängen für anzeigende Messgeräte, siehe Anzeige (Technik)… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Instrument — Sn std. (16. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus l. īnstrūmentum Gerät, Urkunde , Konkretum zu l. īnstrūere herrichten, ausrüsten , mit übertragener Bedeutung unterrichten (instruieren). Adjektiv: instrumental; Kollektivum: Instrumentarium.    Ebenso… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • Instrument — In stru*ment, n. [F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See {Instruct}.] [1913 Webster] 1. That by means of which any work is performed, or result is effected; a tool; a utensil; an implement; a device; as, the instruments of a mechanic; astronomical… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • instrument — (n.) late 13c., musical instrument, from O.Fr. instrument means, device; musical instrument (14c., earlier estrument, 13c.) and directly from L. instrumentem a tool, apparatus, furniture, dress, document, from instruere arrange, furnish (see… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Instrument — In stru*ment, v. t. 1. To perform upon an instrument; to prepare for an instrument; as, a sonata instrumented for orchestra. [1913 Webster] 2. To furnish or equip with instruments; to attach instruments to; as, the fighter planes were heavily… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • instrument — instrùment m <G mn nātā> DEFINICIJA 1. a. pomagalo i oruđe za rad u laboratoriju ili u ordinaciji b. sprava za mjerenje, snimanje, pokazivanje određenih vrijednosti, posebno kao dio kontrolnog sustava [svi su instrumenti u avionu otkazali]… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

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