constitution

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The set of basic laws and principles by which a country or organization is governed.

   Freedom of speech is protected by the country's constitution.

2. 2
   noun

   A person's general health and physical strength.

   He has a strong constitution, so he should recover quickly.

3. 3
   noun

   The way in which something is made up or organized.

   Scientists studied the chemical constitution of the rock.

PIE word *ḱóm From Middle English constitucioun, constitucion (“edict, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, statute; body of laws or rules, or customs; body of fundamental principles; principle or rule (of science); creation”) from Old French constitucion (modern French constitution), a learned borrowing from Latin cōnstitūtiō, cōnstitūtiōnem (“character, constitution, disposition, nature; definition; point in dispute; order, regulation; arrangement, system”), from cōnstituō (“to establish, set up; to confirm; to decide, resolve”). Equivalent to constitute + -ion.

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