a. and sb. Also 7 -ant. [ad. L. constituent-em, pr. pple. of constituĕre to CONSTITUTE: the corresp. F. constituant occurs both as adj. and sb. in Cotgrave 1611, and may have been the immediate model of the Eng. word, which in early use was sometimes so spelt: cf. also sense A. 4.] A. adj.
† 1. That constitutes or makes a thing what it is; formative, essential; characteristic, distinctive. Obs. (or not distinguished from 2.)
1660. Boyle, Seraph. Love, vi. (1700), 42. Like Philosophers, who make Reason the Essential Constituent Form of a Man.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., xxv. (1700), 270. All the constituent and necessary Parts of a Sacrament are found in Baptism.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., Wks. 1842, I. 54. There is another notion current … that Perfection is the constituent cause of beauty.
1833. Whewell, Bridgewater Treatise (1852), 74. To each degree of pressure in steam there is a constituent temperature corresponding.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. iii. 16. Every lawful Parliament consists of three constituent parts,—the King, the Lords, and the Commons.
2. That jointly constitute, compose, or make up. Of a single element: That goes to compose or make up; component.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., II. iii. rule 11 § 1. The main constituent parts of the evangelical [laws].
1676. W. Hubbard, Happiness of People, 2. Distribution … into its integral parts or constituent Members.
1768. Boswell, Corsica (ed. 2), 314. One of the constituent members of the court of syndicats.
1793. W. Roberts, Looker-on, No. 78. All the ideas that are constituent of real excellence.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xxi. (1819), 328. The constituent parts of water.
a. 1871. Grote, Eth. Fragm., ii. (1876), 33. As a constituent member of Society.
1882. A. Macfarlane, Consanguin., 2. The idea must be resolved into its constituent ideas.
3. That constitutes, appoints, or elects a representative. Cf. B. 1.
1769. Junius Lett., xxxv. 166. A question of right arises between the constituent and the representative body.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 478. In some of the small western corporations, the constituent bodies were in great part composed of captains and lieutenants of the guards.
1878. Seeley, Stein, III. 406. The Prussian Estates … the constituent bodies were not districts or fractions of the population, but corporations.
4. Having the power to frame or alter a (political) constitution, as in constituent assembly, power, phrases that originated in French in 1789.
1801. W. Dupré, Neol. Fr. Dict., 62. Decreed by the constituent assembly, on the 12th of July, 1790.
1839. Alison, Hist. Europe (1849), II. vii. § 112. 229. Mirabeau represented the Constituent … Vergniaud … the Legislative Assembly.
1873. Daily News, 5 March, 5/5. He did not deny the constituent power of the Assembly, but … if they were constituent why did they not proceed to ‘constitute’?
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., V. xxiv. 406. Reform bills we have seen without number; a constituent assembly we have never seen.
B. sb.
1. One who constitutes or appoints another as his agent, proxy, or representative.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 107. The partie who … is the Procurator, is taken in law as absolute as the Constituant, and many sundrie proceedings may be vsed against him accordingly.
1713. Lond. Gaz., No. 5148/2. Both the Constituent and Proxy being Qualified according to Law.
1798. Dallas, Amer. Law Rep., II. 67. The factor is answerable personally to his constituent.
1830. R. Chambers, Life Jas. I., I. i. 39. Elizabeth, from the influence she possessed over the Protestant party in Scotland, might almost be called his constituent.
1891. (Mod. Commercial usage; letter of consignee), My constituent’s instructions are not to sell for less than, etc.
2. spec. One of those who elect another to a public office, esp. as their representative in a legislative assembly; an elector; more widely, any inhabitant of the district or place so represented.
1714. G. Lockhart, Mem. Affairs Scot., 220. A hot Debate, whether or not the Parliament without Particular Instructions from their Constituents, could alter the Constitution of the Government.
1747. Gentl. Mag., XVII. 414. If the deputies … fail in their duty, they are only accountable to their constituents.
1858. Bright, Sp. Reform, 27 Oct. Twenty-four Members whose constituents are upwards of 200,000 in number.
† b. The body of electors belonging to a particular place; now CONSTITUENCY. Obs.
1772. Junius Lett., Ded. 7. Influence of the constituent over the conduct of the representative.
a. 1797. Burke, Sp. Short. Parl., Wks. X. 80. If every corruptible Representative were to find an enlightened and incorruptible Constituent.
† 3. One who constitutes or frames. Obs.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. ii. 52. A Creature … whose first composure and origination requires a higher and nobler Constituent than Chance.
4. A constituent element or part.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., Wks. 1842, I. 55. Let it want ever so many of the other constituents, if it wants not this.
1811. A. T. Thomson, Lond. Disp. (1818), 473. The constituents of the neutral carbonate … are, in 100 parts, 49 of acid, 29.85 of alkali, and 20.20 of water.
1850. Maurice, Mor. & Met. Philos., I. 76. What is the special and necessary constituent of royalty.
1881. Burnside & Panton, Th. Equat., xi. 232. The individual letters a, b, c … a2 … etc. of which a determinant is composed are called constituents, and by some writers elements.
† b. A constituent member. Obs.
1755. T. Amory, Mem. (1769), II. 163. Mrs. Harcourt and the eleven constituents she chose on the first founding her society.
