institution (n.)

c. 1400, "action of establishing or founding (a system of government, a religious order, etc.)," from Old French institucion "foundation; thing established" (12c.), from Latin institutionem (nominative institutio) "a disposition, arrangement; instruction, education," noun of state from institutus (see institute (v.)).

Meaning "established law or practice" is from 1550s. Meaning "establishment or organization for the promotion of some charity" is from 1707. Jocular or colloquial use for "anything that's been around a long time" is from 1837.

also from c. 1400

Entries linking to institution

institute (v.)

early 14c., "to establish in office, appoint," from Latin institutus, past participle of instituere "to set up, put in place; arrange; found, establish; appoint, designate; govern, administer; teach, instruct," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + statuere "establish, to cause to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm." General sense of "set up, found, introduce" first attested late 15c. Related: Instituted; instituting.

inset (n.)

1550s, "influx of water; place where water flows in," from in (prep.) + set (n.2). The sense "that which is set in" ("extra pages of a book, etc.," 1871; "small map in the border of a larger one," 1872) probably is a separate formation. In Old English insetan (Old Northumbrian insetta) meant "an institution," literally "a setting in," and perhaps a loan-translation of the source of institution. Similar formation in German einsetzen "to use, employ; institute, begin; install."

institutional

institutionalize

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Trends of institution

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

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establishment

late 15c., "settled arrangement," also "income, property," from establish + -ment. Meaning "established church" is from 1731; Sense of "place of business" is from 1832. Meaning "social matrix of ruling people and institutions" is attested occasionally from 1923, consistently from

asylum

early 15c., earlier asile (late 14c.), "place of refuge, sanctuary," from Latin asylum "sanctuary," from Greek asylon "refuge, fenced territory," noun use of neuter of asylos "inviolable, safe from violence," especially of persons seeking protection, from a- "without" (see a- (3)

foundation

late 14c., "action of founding," from Old French fondacion "foundation" (14c.) or directly from Late Latin fundationem (nominative fundatio) "a founding," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin fundare "to lay a bottom or foundation" (see found (v.1)). The Latin word i

college

powers and rights or engaged in some common duty or pursuit," especially "body of scholars and students within an endowed institution...U.S. and Canada some universities had only one college, and there college came to be used for "incorporated and endowed institution...of learning of the highest grade," and eventually "any degree-giving educational institution" (c. 1800)....

hospital

The sense of "charitable institution to house and maintain the needy" in English is from early 15c.; the meaning "institution...

bank

"financial institution," late 15c., originally "money-dealer's counter or shop," from Old Italian banca and also from French...As "institution for receiving and lending money" from 1620s....

polytechnic

As a noun (short for polytechnic institution) from 1836. Related: Polytechnical....

orphanage

1570s, "condition of being an orphan," from orphan (n.) + -age. Meaning "home for orphans" is by 1850. Other words for "condition of being an orphan" have included orphanhood (1670s); orphancy (1580s); orphanism (1590s); orphanship (1670s); and Middle English had orphanite "desol

sanatorium

by 1839 as "hospital, usually private, for the treatment of invalids, convalescents, etc., who might benefit from open air;" by 1842 as "place to which people go for the sake of health or to regain health;" Modern Latin, noun use of neuter of Late Latin adjective sanitorius "heal

tradition

late 14c., "statement, belief, or practice handed down from generation to generation," especially "belief or practice based on Mosaic law," from Old French tradicion "transmission, presentation, handing over" (late 13c.) and directly from Latin traditionem (nominative traditio) "

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updated on October 15, 2021

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Dictionary entries near institution

instillation

instinct

instinctive

instinctual

institute

institution

institutional

institutionalization

institutionalize

in-store

instreaming