Also 4 -cioun, 4–6 -cion, 6 -tioun, etc. [a. F. constitution, -cion (12th c. in Littré), learned ad. L. constitūtiōn-em, n. of action from constituĕre to CONSTITUTE.]
1. The action of constituting, making, establishing, etc.: see the verb.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Eph. i. 4. Before the constitution of the world.
1592. West, Symbol., II. A iij. The constitution or making of an Obligation.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xviii. 91. Before constitution of Soveraign Power all men had right to all things.
1782. A. Monro, Compar. Anat. (ed. 3), 41. Both ventricles going equally far down to the constitution of the apex.
1861. W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot., s.v., Every decree by which the extent of a debt or obligation is ascertained, is a decree of constitution.
† b. Appointment. Obs.
1665. Pepys, Diary, 20 March. I received their constitution under all their hands presently, so that I am already confirmed their Treasurer.
† 2. The action of decreeing or ordaining. Obs.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 75. The worldes constitucion Hath set the name of gentilesse Upon the fortune of richesse.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xiii. 58. After þe constitucioun and þe ordinaunce of þe rewmes whare þai dwell.
1555. Eden, Decades, 173 (Bull of Alex. VI.). This letter of owre … donation, graunt, assignation, constitution, deputation, decree, commaundement.
1661. Bramhall, Just. Vind., v. 88. By the constitution of the Apostles, and by the solemn sentence of the Catholick Church.
3. A decree, ordinance, law, regulation; usually, one made by a superior authority, civil or ecclesiastical; spec. in Rom. Law, an enactment made by the emperor. Also fig. (Now only Hist.)
Apostolical Constitutions (in Eccl. Hist.): a collection of ecclesiastical regulations, purporting to have been made by the apostles, but known to be of much later date. Constitutions of Clarendon (in Eng. Hist.): a body of propositions drawn up at the Council of Clarendon in the reign of Henry II. (1164), defining the limits of civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction in England.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 89. Þei studien faste & techen here owene constitucions.
a. 1450. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 444. Constitucions and ordenaunce mad withinne the forseide Cite.
1538. Starkey, England, II. ii. 193. The statutys of kyngys, also, be over-many, even as the constytutyonys of the emperorys were.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 6. How basely do they deeme of Apostolicall Constitutions.
1661. Bramhall, Just Vind., iv. 59. All this while our Kings and Bishops called Councels … made Ecclesiastical Lawes and constitutions in their Synods and Parliaments.
1737. Whiston, Josephus’ Antiq., XI. v. § 8. The people … willingly harkened to the constitutions of Nehemiah.
1837–9. Hallam, Hist. Lit., I. iii. I. § 53. 175. It was enacted, in 1408, by a constitution of Archbishop Arundel in convocation, that no one should thereafter translate any text of Holy Scripture into English.
1872. Freeman, Growth Eng. Const., ii. 110. The Constitutions of Clarendon … forbad the ordination of villains.
1885. Catholic Dict., Apostolical Constitutions … The first Greek printed text was edited by Turrianus, and published in 1563. The spurious character of the book was soon evident to Catholic scholars … Pearson assigns the work, as it stands, to the middle of the fifth century.
b. fig. and gen. An ordinance, settled arrangement, institution.
1668. Howe, Bless. Righteous (1825), 295. Wouldst thou overturn the laws of nature, and subvert the most sacred divine constitutions.
1710. Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, 208. The payment of Tithes was grown to be a Veteran and thorough settled Constitution of this Kingdom.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., II. 41. So jealous is Nature of her constitutions.
1833. S. Hoole, Disc., ix. 115. All these wise constitutions and appointments the Psalmist refers, as will every rational and reflecting mind, to the silent energy and unceasing influence of that all-ruling Spirit.
4. The way in which anything is constituted or made up; the arrangement or combination of its parts or elements, as determining its nature and character; make, frame, composition. Constitution of nature, of the world, of the universe, of things (the actual existing order); so of society, etc.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 529. Vnlesse the constitution of the tract and qualitie of a country require the contrary.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. iii. 141. By the excellent constitution of thy legge.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., ii. 38. That an inferior being may in opposition to His will break through the constitution of things.
1736. Butler (title), The Analogy of Religion … to the Constitution and Course of Nature.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Life in Wilds, ix. 118. That … is the fault of the constitution of society.
1839. Thirlwall, Hist. Greece, x. 377. The constitution, functions, and authority of the council.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Plato, Wks. (Bohn), I. 292. Philosophy is the account which the human mind gives to itself of the constitution of the world.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Organ., 6. Before any further change is made in the constitution of the University.
b. Composition in reference to elements.
1659. Vulgar Errors Censured, 26. The tenement of clay shall crumble into its primitive constitution.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 315, ¶ 1. Heaven, Earth and Hell enter into the Constitution of his [Milton’s] Poem.
1831. Brewster, Optics, vii. 73. This view of the constitution of the solar spectrum.
1880. Huxley, Cray-Fish, 19. The exoskeleton is not of the same constitution throughout these regions.
† c. Consistency. Obs.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. ii. 3. Of a midling constitution between hardness and softness.
5. spec. a. Physical nature or character of the body in regard to healthiness, strength, vitality, etc.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 63 b. The temperature of the mynde folowes the constitucion of the bodie.
1583. Babington, Commandm., vii. (1637), 67. We dare solace our selves in soft beds, too long for our constitutions.
1611. Tourneur, Ath. Trag., V. i. The true state And constitution of their bodies.
1625. K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, I. xviii. 49. Men … of sickly constitutions.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 25, ¶ 3. Imaginary Sick Persons that break their Constitutions by Physick.
1789. W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (1790), 25. A good constitution ought certainly to be our first object in the management of children.
1803. Med. Jrnl., IX. 279. The peculiarities of the female constitution.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. (1857), 33. His constitution was far from robust.
b. Nature, character, or condition of mind; mind, disposition, temperament, temper.
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 29. The frowning Constitution of Mars.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 249. Else nothing in the world Could turne so much the constitution of any constant man.
1618. Wither, Motto (1633), 526. I have no Constitution, to accord To ought dishonest, sooner for a Lord Then for his meanest Groome.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1703), II. VI. 100. Imparting himself equally to all Men of several constitutions.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, II. xii. 516. His failings were … such as flowed from his constitution, not his will.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. ii. (1857), 39. His temperament and his constitution of mind peculiarly fitted him for the reception of these influences.
6. The mode in which a state is constituted or organized; especially, as to the location of the sovereign power, as a monarchical, oligarchical, or democratic constitution.
1610. Bp. Hall, Apol. agst. Brownists, 21. The Constitution of the Common-wealth of Israel.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), 3/1. Who exactly knew the frame and constitution of the kingdom.
1681. Nevile, Plato Rediv., 139. Sweden remains in point of Constitution and Property exactly as it did anciently.
1705. Addison, Italy, Pref. No other Country in the World has such a Variety of Governments that are so different in their Constitutions.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), III. xiii. 17. The original constitution of England was highly aristocratical.
1862. Ruskin, Munera P. (1880), 38. Whatever may be the constitution of the State.
7. The system or body of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state, or body politic is constituted and governed.
This may be embodied in successive concessions on the part of the sovereign power, implied in long accepted statutes, or established gradually by precedent, as in the British Constitution; or it may be formally set forth in a document framed and adopted on a particular occasion by the various orders or members of the commonwealth, or their representatives, as in the Constitution of the United States, the various Constitutions of France after 1790, and those of other nations, framed in imitation of these. In the case of a written Constitution, the name is sometimes applied to the document embodying it. In either case it is assumed or specifically provided that the constitution is more fundamental than any particular law, and contains the principles with which all legislation must be in harmony.
This sense gradually arose out of the prec. between 1689 and 1789: see the early quots.
[1689. Declar. Estates of Scotl., 11 April. Whereas King James the Seventh … did by the advice of wicked and evil counsellers invade the fundamental constitution of the kingdom, and altered it from a legal limited monarchy, to an arbitrary despotick power.]
1735–8. Bolingbroke, On Parties, 108. By Constitution We mean, whenever We speak with Propriety and Exactness, that Assemblage of Laws, Institutions and Customs, derived from certain fix’d Principles of Reason … that compose the general System, according to which the Community hath agreed to be govern’d.
1750. Chesterf., Lett. (1774), III. 2. England is now the only monarchy in the world that can properly be said to have a constitution.
1789. Constit. U. S., Preamb. We … do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
1789–92. A. Young, Trav. France, 124. There is an idea … that this union of the orders is only for the verification of their powers, and for making the constitution, which is a new term they have adopted; and which they use as if a constitution was a pudding to be made by a receipt.
1791. Paine, Rights of Man (ed. 4), 93. The American constitutions were to liberty, what a grammar is to language: they define its parts of speech, and practically construct them into syntax.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. V. xi. The Twelve eldest are sent solemnly to fetch the Constitution itself, the printed Book of the Law.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. ii. (1857), 19. With all the forms prescribed by the constitution.
1863. Mary Howitt, trans. F. Bremer’s Greece, I. viii. 264. The new constitution of Greece is formed very much upon that of France.
1864. Sat. Rev., XVIII. 449/2. By the English constitution we understand a few great traditional principles of government, any fundamental breach of which would involve either tyranny or anarchy.
1872. Freeman, Growth Eng. Const., ii. 54. Our English constitution was never made, in the sense in which the constitutions of many other countries have been made.
8. a. attrib. as (in sense 5 b) † constitution evil, † sin; Constitution Church, that established in France by the Constituent Assembly on 12 July, 1790; b. Comb. as (sense 7) constitution-builder, -building, -maker, -monger, -mongering; also constitution-build vb. nonce-wd.
1665. T. Mall, Offer F. Help., 92 Your proper sin, or constitution-evil.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 20. His constitution sins, his most prevalent sins.
1795. Barruel’s Hist. Clergy Fr. Rev., 62. The two churches were easily distinguished … that of the ancient pastors was called the Catholic, the other the Constitution Church.
1795. Windham, Speeches Parl., 27 May (1812), I. 270. The Honourable Gentleman is a sort of constitution-monger … he declared … that he would give to France the same constitution as that of America.
1816. Coleridge, Lay Serm., 324. Planners and constitution-makers.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. VII. vii. Arrange it, constitution-build it, sift it through ballot-boxes as thou wilt. Ibid. (1840), Heroes, vi. 308. No ballot-box, parliamentary eloquence, voting, constitution-building. Ibid., vi. 361. Theoretical constitution-builders.
1875. Helps, Organiz. Daily Life, Ess., 124. The failure of constitution-mongers like the Abbé Sièyes, who are sublimely indifferent to the state of facts around them.
