INSTRUMENTALLY

Etymology

Adverb

instrumentally (comparative more instrumentally, superlative most instrumentally)

By means of an instrument or agency; as means to an end

With instruments of music

Synonyms

• instrumently

Source: Wiktionary


In`stru*men"tal*ly, adv.

1. By means of an instrument or agency; as means to an end. South. They will argue that the end being essentially beneficial, the means become instrumentally so. Burke.

2. With instruments of music; as, a song instrumentally accompanied. Mason.

INSTRUMENTAL

In`stru*men"tal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. instrumental.]

1. Acting as an instrument; serving as a means; contributing to promote; conductive; helpful; serviceable; as, he was instrumental in conducting the business. The head is not more native to the heart, The hand more instrumental to the mouth. Shak.

2. (Mus.)

Definition: Pertaining to, made by, or prepared for, an instrument, esp. a musical instrument; as, instrumental music, distinguished from vocal music. "He defended the use of instrumental music in public worship." Macaulay. Sweet voices mix'd with instrumental sounds. Dryden.

3. (Gram.)

Definition: Applied to a case expressing means or agency; as, the instrumental case. This is found in Sanskrit as a separate case, but in Greek it was merged into the dative, and in Latin into the ablative. In Old English it was a separate case, but has disappeared, leaving only a few anomalous forms. Instrumental errors, those errors in instrumental measurements, etc., which arise, exclusively from want of mathematical accuracy in an instrument.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

26 December 2024

CHATTEL

(noun) personal as opposed to real property; any tangible movable property (furniture or domestic animals or a car etc)


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, on 25 September 2016, the Birla Institute of Management Technology (India) in Uttar Pradesh, India, constructed the largest coffee cups pyramid consisting of 23,821 cups. They used paper takeaway coffee cups to build the pyramid.

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