instrumentaladj.n.
/ˌɪnstrᵿˈmɛntl/, U.S. /ˌɪnstrəˈmɛn(t)l/ A. adj.
1. † b. Serving well for a given purpose; serviceable, useful; effective, efficient. Obsolete.In later use merged with sense A. 1c.
a. That is used to bring about a result or accomplish a purpose; that serves as a means. Also: of the nature of an instrument. instrumental cause n. (also cause instrumental) Philosophy and Theology (esp. in Neoplatonic and scholastic metaphysics) a causal agent which is used by another causal agent to bring about an effect outside of itself; cf. efficient cause at cause n. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [adjective] > instrumental
instrumentala1398
mediate?1504
organic1509
ministerial?1544
instrumentaryc1595
organical1605
subservient1624
ministering1886
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. iii. xx. 117 [With reference to the sense of taste.] Þe cause material and instrumental [L. instrumentalis] is in þe tonge.
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. To Rdr. sig. ¶vv The seruice of his naturall abilities, and the use of his instrumentall powers.
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. H8v We giue vnto God..the cheefest rule in all things, all other creatures being but the instrumentall, or secundarie causes.
a1615 P. Lily 2 Serm. (1619) 3 I doe not say they are principall causes, but instrumentall, adjuvant, secundary, inferiour causes.
1697 tr. F. Burgersdijck Monitio Logica i. xvii. 65 The Instrumental Cause is that which subserves the principal Cause in its Effecting.
1766 J. Fordyce Serm. Young Women II. xi. 216 The instrumental duties of religion, as they are usually termed.
1797 E. Burke Third Let. Peace Regicide Directory France 90 The loan demonstrates, in regard to instrumental resources, the competency of this kingdom to the assertion of the common cause.
1850 H. Rogers Ess. I. 357 The art of persuasive argumentation will, like every other instrumental art, be capable of abuse.
1939 ELH 6 310 The Holy Spirit, here acting in the capacity of an instrumental intermediary to the First Person.
2012 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 6 Dec. 41/1 Haidt's..utilitarianism reduces the values of loyalty, authority, and sanctity to a purely instrumental role.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > [adjective]
frameeOE
goodeOE
mightyOE
vailanta1325
sicker1338
mightful1340
suffisant1340
virtuousa1387
effectivea1398
effectuala1398
worthya1398
availingc1420
effectuous?a1425
operant?a1425
substantialc1449
virtual?a1475
substantious1483
available1502
efficacious1528
energial1528
working1532
operatory1551
operatoriousa1555
stately1567
feckful1568
efficace?1572
shifty1585
operative1590
instrumental1601
efficable1607
speeding1612
effectuating1615
officious1618
availsome1619
prevailable1624
valid1651
perficient1659
affectuous1664
implemental1676
virtual1760
efficient1787
sufficient1831
slick1833
roadworthy1837
practician1863
positive1903
performant1977
1601 J. Chamber Astronomiae Encomium 36 in Treat. against Iudicial Astrol. Neither is this knowledge & skill profitable or commodious onely, but also very instrumentall, and helpfull to our saluation.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. ii. 48 The head is not more natiue to the hart The hand more instrumentall to the mouth Then is the throne of Denmarke to thy father. View more context for this quotation
1672 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd i. 26 How instrumental soever the Captain hath been, the General usually carries away the honour of the Action.
1674 in O. Airy Essex Papers (1890) I. 249 My Lord Conway & Sr Arthr Forbese have bin instrumentall & usefull to me herein.
1709 J. Swift Project Advancem. Relig. 52 It would be very instrumental, to have a Law made.
1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. ii. 175 Those truths which are most instrumental in purifying the heart and reforming the life.
c. In predicative use with in or to (in early use also with †infinitive or rarely †for or †of). Contributing to the accomplishment of a specified purpose or the realization of a specified result. Also (in later use): crucial or pivotal to the accomplishment of a specified purpose or result.
ΚΠ
1616 J. Dyke D. Dyke's Two Treat.: Repentance & Christs Temptations i. xv. 139 In our sinnes wee are commonly instrumentall for Sathan to draw others into our sinnes with vs. True Repentance will make vs zealous to bee as instrumentall to bring others to God.
1650 Bp. J. Taylor Rule & Exercises Holy Living iv. §1. 234 Prayer, which is instrumental to every thing.
1669 S. Pepys Diary 28 Apr. (1976) IX. 536 My Lady Castlemayne is instrumental in this matter.
1669 J. Dryden Wild Gallant iv. i. 48 You have been instrumental I hear of my preferment.
1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers Pref. sig. a3v I was prepared to be instrumental for such a Work as this.
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. iii. 53 Instrumental in bringing about Revolutions.
1796 J. L. Towers Illustr. of Prophecy II. xx. 363 He who is instrumental in perpetuating a corrupt and wicked government, is also instrumental in unfitting his fellow-men for the felicity of the celestial mansions.
1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets i. 17 Zeal for greater rigour of thought was instrumental in developing a new vehicle of language in the creation of a prose style.
1881 J. Simon in Nature 18 Aug. 372/1 When the life of either man or brute is to be made merely instrumental to the establishment of a scientific truth.
1940 Times 30 Apr. 2/6 He had been instrumental in the formation of that council.
1995 S. Sharoni Gender & Israeli–Palestinian Conflict p. ix Her personal and professional dedication, limitless faith in me, and unconditional support were instrumental to the completion of this book.
2005 Village Voice (N.Y.) 13 July 7/4 The press might have been instrumental in bringing down another president.
2. Of a part of the body: that performs a special function; that is an organ. Also: of or relating to an organ. Cf. instrument n. 4. Now historical and rare.Quot. ?a1425 might be analysed as showing a noun (cf. quot. ?1541 at sense B. 1), but it seems more likely to show an inflected form of the adjective.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > system > [adjective] > organ > having function
instrumental?a1425
organicalc1450
instrumentary1564
instrumentarian1649
functional1841
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 8 (MED) Componed membrez..bene called forsoþ organic & instrumentalez [?c1425 Paris instrumentis; L. instrumentalia], for þai bene instrumentez of þe soule, as hand, face, hert, lyuer.
?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 30 Þe forsaide instrumental membres beþ compownede of many þinges.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. xxiii. sig. g.vi The sensis..be distributed in to dyuers instrumentall partes of the body: as sight in to the eyen: herynge to the eares: smellyng to the nose: [etc.].
1539 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe (new ed.) i. f. 10 (table) Members instrumentall. The stomacke. The raynes. The bowelles. All the great synewes.
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man iv. f. 44 A Muscle..is an instrumentall part of the body.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 340 I wish al Ferrers..to know the causes of all diseases, as wel in the parts similer, as instrumentall.
1668 W. Rowland tr. J. Feyens New Treat. Spirits & Wind vii. 20 The whole Abdomen or Panch swells by wind, as in a Tympany; and the Liver and Spleen are wonderfully stopt thereby..; and all these are instrumental diseases: therefore organical diseases are also from wind.
1726 T. Bisse Musick Delight of Sons of Men 8 The hand the instrumental organ to perform; the ear to receive, form and convey musick to the Soul.
1784 F. Sydenham Onomasticon Theologicum iii. xv. 200 The finer Members of the Body, instrumental to Sensation.
1850 Trans. Bombay Geogr. Soc. 1849–50 9 286 The term Kef is more particularly referable to miracles, where the hand is the instrumental member.
2001 J. G. Lennox in tr. Aristotle On Parts Animals 179 A case is made for the teleological priority of instrumental parts or ‘organs’ over uniform parts or ‘tissues’.
3. † a. Of the nature of a tool or instrument; resembling a tool or instrument in form or shape. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 1 (MED) Instrumentez of Cyrurgiens..bene manyfolde, For..som bene medicinale, som bene instrumentale [?c1425 Paris Instrumentes] of yren.
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 86 (MED) Signez of fistulez ar y-taken of substantially cleuyng þingez, as of þat callose skyn & of þe instrumentale fourme of þe fistule [?c1425 Paris of þe schappe of a pype; L. a forma fistule instrumentalis].
a1500 (a1477) Black Bk. (Soc. of Antiquaries) in A. R. Myers Househ. Edward IV (1959) 126 No feez of plate nor syluer but hit be in this instrumental tooles perused by ocupacion.
b. Carried out using a specialized tool, device, or instrument (instrument n. 1b, instrument n. 1c); of the nature of, relating to, or involving an instrument or instruments of this kind.Cf. instrumental error n. at Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > [adjective]
instrumental1633
1633 tr. Math. Recreations lxxxxiv. 225 Get the sunnes distance by instrumentall observation from the zenith at noone. [No corresponding passage in the French original.]
1647 N. Nye Art of Gunnery ii. 47 The degree in the Circle, that was cut in the Circle of the Instrument, when you made your Instrumentall observation.
1726 P. Shaw New Pract. Physic II. 507 The instrumental method of delivery, except the cæsarian operation, is always death to the child, if he be not dead before.
1761 H. Pemberton in Philos. Trans. 1760 (Royal Soc.) 51 921 The instrumental construction proposed by Mr. Collins will very readily give the true latitude.
1830 J. F. W. Herschel Prelim. Disc. Study Nat. Philos. 125 We are obliged to have recourse to instrumental aids.
1876 Trans. Clin. Soc. 9 70 No instrumental treatment had taken place that day.
1928 Jrnl. Sci. Instruments 5 145 Most of the instrumental troubles with recording electrographs arise from defective insulation.
1969 Guardian 12 Aug. 2/8 The craft, launched on Friday, also took instrumental measurements of near-moon space.
2011 Internat. Jrnl. Amer. Linguistics 77 163 Stress placement was judged auditorily..and verified through instrumental analysis..by measuring pitch, amplitude, and duration.
4.
a. Of music: performed on or with one or more musical instruments; spec. performed using only musical instruments, without vocals; composed to be performed in this way. Of a musician or group of musicians: that performs using only musical instruments. Opposed to vocal.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > [adjective] > instrumental
instrumental1517
organical1521
1517 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) 2 Of musyke mundayne, humayne, & instrumentall.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. xxxviii. 75 They which..require the abrogation of instrumentall musique.
1637 State Imperiall-court in tr. Particular State Govt. of Ferdinand II sig. I2v One Master of the Court-chappell. Two Organists. Twenty Instrumental Musicians.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1641 (1955) II. 67 His three Daughters, entertain'd us with rare Musique, both Vocal & Instrumental.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 686 With Heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds In full harmonic number joind. View more context for this quotation
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 405. ¶8 Vocal and Instrumental Musick were made use of in their Religious Worship.
1774 Gentleman's Mag. June 263/2 The harmonious sound from the instrumental band,..being conveyed to the company through the orange plantation and shrubbery, created a most happy and pleasing effect.
1839 Spectator 13 Apr. 340/2 It has been justly remarked of Spohr, that ‘his violin sings’; the highest compliment that an instrumental performer can receive.
1891 Times 8 Oct. 7/4 When these alone sing, the balance is better kept by omitting the instrumental parts.
1948 R. M. Myers Handel's Messiah vi. 254 Never were the charms of vocal and instrumental music more happily united.
1999 N.Y. Times 4 Nov. e5/6 The program's musical charms included an instrumental ensemble featuring balalaikas and accordions.
2012 Time Out N.Y. 12 July 69/4 Alarm Will Sound performs John Cage's Song Books, a daring collection of electronic music, theater tidbits, songs and instrumental pieces.
b. Of or relating to a musical instrument; of the nature of a musical instrument; (now chiefly) reminiscent of the sound produced by a musical instrument.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > [adjective]
organly1435
organica1631
instrumental1655
organic1786
digital1970
1655 I. Walton Compl. Angler (ed. 2) i. 15 The Nightingale..breathes such sweet lowd musick out of her little instrumental throat.
1702 E. Bysshe Art Eng. Poetry 20 The Powers militant That stood for Heav'n..mov'd on..to the Sound of instrumental Harmony.
a1822 P. B. Shelley To Constantia Singing in Posthumous Poems (1824) 143 The blood and life within those snowy fingers Teach witchcraft to the instrumental strings.
1891 Funny Folks 26 Dec. 8/4 Floating on the wind, from the windows of the palace, came the sounds produced by combined vocal c'ords [sic] and instrumental strings.
1963 Times 18 July 14/2 The firm, almost instrumental quality of line shown by the soloists in the Gloria..gave a clear idea of what was wanted.
2004 W. Keil in Music & Lit. in German Romanticism x. 154 Antonie's voice is instrumental in quality, sounding like the Aeolian harp and the organ.
5. Law. Of or relating to a legal instrument, such as a contract or deed (see instrument n. 2a). Chiefly in instrumental witness n. a witness to a legal instrument. Now rare.Cf. the more common instrumentary adj. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal document > [adjective]
above-recited1534
instrumental1790
documental1825
documentary1827
1790 A. J. Dallas Rep. Cases Pennsylvania 1 209 Instrumental witnesses are always called upon.
1839 E. Cowen & N. Hill Notes Phillipps' Treat. Law of Evid. II. 1438 In respect to this species of instrumental evidence,..a mere receipt is not regarded as the exclusive expositor of the intent of the party.
1879 Galveston (Texas) News 25 Apr. Unless there are instrumental witnesses present when the declaration of sale is made before the notary, the instrument is not a complete and perfect public instrument.
1963 Virginia Law Rev. 49 1014 The law had placed it [sc. the state] in the position of a normal party calling an instrumental witness.
2015 Manila Times (Nexis) 14 Oct. The will must be signed on the left margin of each and every page..by the testator..as well as the instrumental witnesses.
6. Grammar and Linguistics.
a. instrumental case n. Grammar (in Sanskrit, Slavonic languages, and some other inflected languages) a case of nouns and pronouns, and of words in grammatical agreement with them, the typical function of which is to express the means or instrument with which something is done.In 19th-cent. grammars of Sanskrit this case is also designated as causative or implementive. Compare e.g.:With reference to other inflected languages where another case is used to express means, also called ablative of (the) instrument (in e.g. Latin), instrumental dative (in e.g. ancient and Hellenistic Greek and Old English), etc.
1848 H. Welsford Mithridates Minor 105 Sanskrit Nouns..have eight cases... The third may be denominated the Implementive Case, having the force of the sign by, or with.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > case > [adjective] > other spec.
polyptote1656
instrumental case1801
allative1831
adessive1852
abessive1854
instructive1857
caritive1860
comitative1860
juxtapositive1880
similative1884
illative1890
translative1890
introessive1903
perlative1937
lative1939
patient1939
ergative1943
elative1951
non-objective1954
superessive1971
1801 W. Carey Gram. Bengalee Lang. 92 Verbs which express the performance of an action by means of an instrument, govern the instrumental case.
1813 W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. 71 476 Several Slavonian dialects..have seven cases, the six cases of the Latins, and an instrumental case.
1877 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 1876–7 16 325 The two first sentences give us a locative case in -ak, the two latter an instrumental case in -ok.
1935 Anthropos 30 518 Words denoting rational beings are not generally used in the instrumental case.
1955 J. W. Perry in W. N. Locke & A. D. Booth Machine Transl. Langs. xi. 181 Problems are to be anticipated in..the interpretation of the various uses of the genitive, dative, accusative, and instrumental cases.
2011 T. Wade Comprehensive Russ. Gram. (ed. 3) 121 A noun is placed in the instrumental case to denote that the object it represents is being used to perform a function.
b. Linguistics. Expressing the means or instrument with which something is done. In Grammar: designating a word form, inflectional suffix, etc., in or denoting the instrumental case.
ΚΠ
1820 W. Yates Gram. Sunscrit Lang. App. 420 Instrumental nouns, as [vaktra]..the mouth.
1876 T. L. Papillon Man. Compar. Philol. vi. 99 In both [Greek and Latin]..we shall find remnants of both locative and instrumental forms.
1877 J. Peile Philol. iv. 76 An instrumental-compound, i.e. one the first part of which stands to the second in the relation of an instrumental case.
1935 PMLA 50 948 The instrumental ending of the masculine a-stems [in Old English]..was originally -i.
1995 Canad. Slavonic Papers 37 145 The meaning of -shchik has expanded to include both personal and instrumental nouns.
2007 Harvard Ukrainian Stud. 29 247 The chronicle used Church Slavonic as an emphatic stylistic device.., e.g., mnozy smertiju umroša ‘many died (by a death)’.., an archaic instrumental construction with an aorist form.
7. Psychology. Involving the modification of behaviour by the reinforcing or inhibiting effect of its own consequences; = operant adj. 2. Frequently in instrumental conditioning. Contrasted with respondent adj. 4b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > experimental psychology > conditioning > [adjective] > from particular response
instrumental1940
1940 E. R. Hilgard & D. G. Marquis Conditioning & Learning iii. 51 When the occurrence of the reinforcement is contingent upon the organism's behavior the procedure may be termed instrumental conditioning.
1940 E. R. Hilgard & D. G. Marquis Conditioning & Learning iii. 52 As a reference experiment for instrumental reward training we may select a study by Grindley.
1972 New Yorker 26 Aug. 32/1 Edward L. Thorndike..is credited with the first rigorous investigation of trial-and-error, or instrumental, learning.
2008 U. Frith Autism: Very Short Introd. vi. 103 The response was impenetrably rigid. To me this suggests simple association learning or instrumental conditioning.
B. n.† 1. An organ or other part of the body that performs a special function; = instrument n. 4. Obsolete.† 2. A person or thing used to bring about a result or accomplish a purpose; an instrument (instrument n. 3), a means. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > system > [noun] > organ
instrumenta1398
organ?a1425
instrumental?1541
organon1583
organum1614
corpus1706
apparatus1718
?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens ii. sig. Cij As to the seconde questyon that asketh why they [sc. the membres compostes] be called organykes & instrumentalles [Fr. instrumentaulx].
1564 P. Moore Hope of Health i. iv. 7 Some other partes in the body be called..instrumentalles and vnlyke partes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [noun] > (a) means
keyOE
toolc1000
wherewithc1230
ministerc1380
meanc1390
instrumenta1425
organ?a1425
mesne1447
moyen1449
handlec1450
hackneya1500
receipta1500
operative1526
ingine1531
appliance1555
agent1579
matter1580
mids1581
wedge1581
wherewithal1583
shoeing-horn1587
engine1589
instrumental1598
Roaring Meg1598
procurement1601
organy1605
vehicle1615
vehiculuma1617
executioner1646
facility1652
operatory1660
instrumentality1663
expedient1665
agency1684
bladea1713
mechanic1924
mechanism1924
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. Pref. sig. a To represent..not onlye the materialle, and formalle principles, wherof..mans bodye, is created,..but the Instrumentalles, throughe the which we as by such meanes mayntayne the same in his naturall healthe.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Aa4 Vnto the deepe, fruitefull, and operatiue studie of many Scyences..Bookes be not onely the Instrumentals . View more context for this quotation
a1643 J. Spelman Case of Affaires (1644) 11 Through the concurrence of those that are the instrumentals of His restraint.
1713 J. Edwards Theologia Reformata I. i. 72 He [sc. God] is not necessitated to use the assistance of any Instrumentals.
1846 New Jerusalem Mag. July 445 Those things which at best are but instrumentals, and should, therefore, occupy only a subordinate place in the mind.
3. Music.
a.
(a) A piece or passage of music performed on or composed for musical instruments, esp. without vocals.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > type of piece > [noun] > instrumental piece
fanfarea1605
sonata1683
instrumental1700
song without words1838
canzona-
1700 T. Tryon Lett., Domestick & Foreign xxix. 166 You are to teach them [sc. Children] the time and length of each Note, by expressing them with the Voice and motion of the Foot, if it be Instrumentals.
1769 Private Lett. from Amer. in Eng. iv. 12 Every full moon they had a regular concert of vocals and instrumentals in the very public house we baited at.
1825 F. Franck Autobiogr. Sketch xiii. 48 In my uncle's repertory were six ‘suites’ of Christian Bach, which hitherto I had deemed the non plus ultra of the beautiful in instrumentals.
1899 Carlisle (Indiana) News 16 Oct. 1/3 Mrs. James McConnell also contributed to the program. Her instrumentals are always appreciated.
1940 Swing July 17/1 Bob Mersey's Blue Ink is another slightly Wham-like instrumental.
1972 Jazz & Blues Sept. 11/3 Fats' work falls into three main categories: medium-tempo vocal blues..; slow, dragging blues and quasi-blues; and ‘jump’ instrumentals, normally featuring the tenor [saxophone] of Herb Hardesty.
2006 DJ 8 Nov. 84/4 A hypnotic instrumental that will confound and delight.
(b) In plural. The instrumental components of a piece of music. Frequently contrasted with vocals.
ΚΠ
1931 Lincoln (Nebraska) Sunday Star 25 Jan. d8 (advt.) Both voice and instrumentals come in with all the warmth and charm of actual human presence of the artists themselves.
1974 Times 8 Apr. 7/5 The singing and instrumentals on ‘Life Ain't Easy’ and ‘Second Street and Broadway’..were winning.
1998 R. Mansfield Studio Basics ii. 38 Track as much as you can premixed and reserve soloing for key instrumentals, vocals, and sweetener.
2015 City Times (San Diego City Coll.) 8 Dec. in University Wire (Nexis) 1 The song..gradually builds up to a beautiful grand wall of layered vocals and instrumentals.
b. A musician who plays an instrument, as opposed to a singer; = instrumentalist n. 1a. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > [noun]
player?c1450
sounder1591
instrumentist1609
twire-pipea1625
tweedle-dee1725
tweedle-dum1725
instrumental1798
instrumentalist1814
tudeler1814
1798 Bell's Weekly Messenger 16 Sept. 294/3 Amongst the vocal performers were Banti and Harrison;..among the instrumentals were Cramer, Ashley, Dragonetti, Linley, &c.
1825 London Evening Chron. 15 Sept. The total number of performers was 15 principal vocals, 250 instrumentals, and 350 chorus singers.
1883 E. Lloyd Grumbleby Hall I. xxxiii. 479 A very congratulatory conversation ensued amongst the instrumentals, each of whom, delighted at his own share in the performance, predicted a still greater success in what was to follow.
1905 Rochester (Indiana) Republican 21 Dec. To compound his organization as a full concert band, Director Weil made a long and scrutinous search for instrumentals who would, in his judgment, conform in the highest degree to a perfectly concerted body.
1940 Defiance (Ohio) Crescent-News 30 Jan. 2/4 Some of the best instrumentals offered several selections led by Emerson J. Burroughs.
4. Grammar.
a. Chiefly with the. The instrumental case. See sense A. 6a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > case > [noun] > other specific cases
ablativec1400
instrumental1801
prepositional1824
allative1854
adessive1855
sociative1859
comitative1860
terminative1865
abessive1869
common case1869
translative1869
instructive1879
essive1890
transitional case1890
superessive1895
prepositional case1897
similative1903
lative1939
perlative1953
elative1959
1801 W. Carey Gram. Bengalee Lang. 21 The cases of Bengalee nouns are seven: the Nominative, Accusative, Instrumental, Dative, Ablative, Possessive, and Locative.
1824 J. Heard Gram. Russ. Lang. §9 There are six cases in the Russian Language: the Nominative, the Accusative, the Genitive, the Dative, the Instrumental, the Prepositional.
1876 H. Sweet Anglo-Saxon Reader Introd. p. xlv Adjectives have the three genders of nouns, and the same cases, with the addition of the instrumental.
1944 Jrnl. Amer. Oriental Soc. 64 190/2 In hieroglyphic Hittite, as in Latin, the ancient ablative seems to have assumed also the function of the instrumental.
2011 T. Wade Comprehensive Russ. Gram. (ed. 3) 124 The instrumental is also used to express similarity.
b. A word in the instrumental case; a form which is the instrumental case of a word.
ΚΠ
1846 H. C. Rawlinson Persian Cuneiform Inscription Behistun 212 Abish may possibly be the dative plural, as aibish would be the instrumental of the same number.
1846 M. Williams Elem. Gram. Sanscrit x. 192 In this sense many causals [i.e. causal verbs] take an instrumental.
1879 W. D. Whitney Sanskrit Gram. iv. 84 The construction of a passive verb (or participle) with an instrumental of the agent is common.
1910 H. H. Bender Suffixes Mant & Vant in Sanskrit & Avestan i. ii. 57 The ā was, doubtless, inserted between stem and suffix thru analogy with the instrumentals sahasā and çavasā.
1952 Jrnl. Amer. Oriental Soc. 72 102/2 The instrumental is mäfyäčča ‘instrument in which one drinks’.
2001 Language 77 513 Serbo-Croatian nouns in oblique case forms (instrumentals and datives) elicit longer response times in visual lexical-decision tasks than nominative forms.
Compounds
instrumental break n. Music a section of a song performed using only musical instruments, as an interval between vocal sections.
ΚΠ
1925 C. F. A. Williams Rhythm of Song i. 7 When there are more than three stanzas we do not want the poem to be hung up by too long instrumental breaks.
1968 Melody Maker 12 Oct. 8/3 It was a wild finish to a pounding set that included Mose Allison's ‘Young Man Blues’, with a scorching instrumental break.
2014 Candy Sept. 90/2 Dancers came out to strut their stuff during the instrumental breaks in a song.
instrumental error n. a persistent or recurring error in measurement arising from imperfect instrumentation.
ΚΠ
1797 S. Vince Compl. Syst. Astron. I. 316 The aberration is the difference between the true place and that measured by the instrument, or the instrumental error.
1833 J. F. W. Herschel Astronomy ii. 72 Such inquiries constitute the theory of instrumental errors.
1981 P. van de Kamp Stellar Paths i. 1 The observations are corrected for atmospheric refraction and instrumental errors.
2012 States News Service (Nexis) 24 Oct. The satellite readings also showed ozone levels so low the team thought it might be instrumental error.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.a1398