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Constitution   /kˌɑnstətˈuʃən/   Listen
noun
Constitution  n.  
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."
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."
4.
The aggregate of mental qualities; temperament. "He defended himself with... less passion than was expected from his constitution."
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." 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." "A constitution of Valentinian addressed to Olybrius, then prefect of Rome, for the regulation of the conduct of advocates."
Apostolic constitutions. See under Apostolic.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Constitution" Quotes from Famous Books



... York is the most populous State of the Union, having the largest representation in Congress—on which account it has been called the Empire State—I propose to state, as shortly as may be, the nature of its separate constitution as a State. Of course it will be understood that the constitutions of the different States are by no means the same. They have been arranged according to the judgment of the different people concerned, and have been altered from time to time to suit such altered ...
— Volume 1 • Anthony Trollope

... believe that a new constitution would save them; for as little as the old constitution had brought them to ruin, so little would a ...
— The Transvaal from Within - A Private Record of Public Affairs • J. P. Fitzpatrick

... discoursed to his sons, and had prayed to God to be their assistant, and to recover to the people their former constitution, he died a little afterward, and was buried at Modin; all the people making great lamentation for him. Whereupon his son Judas took upon him the administration of public affairs, in the hundred forty and sixth year; and thus, by the ready assistance of his brethren, ...
— The Antiquities of the Jews • Flavius Josephus

... been fairly enough urged under the old Confederation; though even then it would have been summarily dealt with, in the case of a Tory colony, if the necessity had arisen. But the very fact that we have a National Constitution, and legal methods for testing, preventing, or punishing any infringement of its provisions, demonstrates the absurdity of any such assumption of right now. When the States surrendered their power to make war, ...
— Atlantic Monthly Volume 7, No. 40, February, 1861 • Various

... gentle poet, patriot, and Christian came out of his prison, with a broken constitution and a wounded heart, into a bleak and prizeless world, the Marchioness—who had long been a mother to the poor of her native city, an assiduous visitor of the jails, a saintly benefactress to all the unhappy whom her charities could reach—drawn ...
— The Friendships of Women • William Rounseville Alger


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