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constitution

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constitution


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Constitution  \Con`sti*tu"tion\,  n.  [F.  constitution,  L. 
  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. 
 
  Note:  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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  constitution 
  n  1:  law  determining  the  fundamental  political  principles  of  a 
  government  [syn:  {fundamental  law},  {organic  law}] 
  2:  the  act  of  forming  something  "the  constitution  of  a  PTA 
  group";  "he  still  remembers  the  establishment  of  the 
  hospital"  [syn:  {establishment},  {formation},  {organization}, 
  {organisation}] 
  3:  the  way  in  which  someone  or  something  is  composed  [syn:  {composition}, 
  {makeup}] 




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