instigation

Middle French instigation, from Latin instigatio.

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

instigation (countable and uncountable, plural instigations)

1. The act of instigating, or the state of being instigated; incitement; especially to evil or wickedness.
   • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:

     The departure was not unduly prolonged. […] Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments on the subject of Divine Intention in the disposition of buckets; farewells and last commiserations; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity.

• instigate
• instigator

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instigation f (plural instigations)

1. instigation