instinct

Definitions

1. 1.Natural inward impulse; unconscious, involuntary, or unreasoning prompting to any mode of action, whether bodily, or mental, without a distinct apprehension of the end or object to be accomplished. An instinct is a propensity prior to experience, and independent of instructions. Paley. An instinct is a blind tendency to some mode of action, independent of any consideration, on the part of the agent, of the end to which the action leads. Whately. An instinct is an agent which performs blindly and ignorantly a work of intelligence and knowledge. Sir W. Hamilton. By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing dangers. Shak.
2. 2.(Zoöl.) Specif., the natural, unreasoning, impulse by which an animal is guided to the performance of any action, without of improvement in the method. The resemblance between what originally was a habit, and an instinct becomes so close as not to be distinguished. Darwin.
3. 3.A natural aptitude or knack; a predilection; as, an instinct for order; to be modest by instinct.
4. 4.To impress, as an animating power, or instinct. [Obs.] Bentley.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "instinct" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is instinct.

• What is a natural aptitude or knack; a predilection; as, an instinct for order; to be modest by instinct called?
• What is to impress, as an animating power, or instinct. [Obs.] Bentley called?