In"stance (?), n. [F. instance,
L. instantia, fr. instans. See Instant.]
1. The act or quality of being instant or
pressing; urgency; solicitation; application; suggestion;
motion.
Undertook at her instance to restore
them.
Sir W. Scott.
2. That which is instant or urgent;
motive. [Obs.]
The instances that second marriage move
Are base respects of thrift, but none of love.
Shak.
3. Occasion; order of occurrence.
These seem as if, in the time of Edward I., they were
drawn up into the form of a law, in the first
instance.
Sir M. Hale.
4. That which offers itself or is offered as
an illustrative case; something cited in proof or exemplification; a
case occurring; an example.
Most remarkable instances of
suffering.
Atterbury.
5. A token; a sign; a symptom or
indication. Shak.
Causes of instance, those which proceed at
the solicitation of some party. Hallifax. --
Court of first instance, the court by which a
case is first tried. -- For instance, by
way of example or illustration. -- Instance
Court (Law), the Court of Admiralty acting
within its ordinary jurisdiction, as distinguished from its action as
a prize court.
Syn. -- Example; case. See Example.
In"stance (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Instanced (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Instancing (?).] To mention as a case or example; to
refer to; to cite; as, to instance a fact. H.
Spenser.
I shall not instance an abstruse
author.
Milton.
In"stance, v. i. To give an
example. [Obs.]
This story doth not only instance in kingdoms,
but in families too.
Jer. Taylor.
