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.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Constitution entered English in the Middle English period from Latin constituere, meaning “establish” or “appoint,” formed from con- “together” and statuere “set up, place.” It formerly denoted a law or a body of laws and customs.

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.

Topics

External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary