instinct
/ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.86 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "Many animals fear fire by instinct."
- "By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust / Ensuing dangers."
- "In spite of these qualifications, the broad distinction between instinct and habit is undeniable. To take extreme cases, every animal at birth can take food by instinct, before it has had opportunity to learn; on the other hand, no one can ride a bicycle by instinct, though, after learning, the necessary movements become just as automatic as if they were instinctive."
- "an instinct for order; to be modest by instinct"
- "Debbie's instinct was to distrust John."
- "The chariot of paternal deity […] / Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed / By four cherubic shapes."
Etymology
From Latin īnstīnctus, past participle of īnstinguō (“to incite, to instigate”), from in (“in, on”) + stinguō (“to prick”).
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: īnstīnctus