\In*stinct"\, a. [L. instinctus, p. p. of instinguere
to instigate, incite; cf. instigare to instigate. Cf.
{Instigate}, {Distinguish}.]
Urged or stimulated from within; naturally moved or impelled;
imbued; animated; alive; quick; as, birds instinct with life.
      The chariot of paternal deity . . . Itself instinct
      with spirit, but convoyed By four cherubic shapes.
                                               --Milton.
      A noble performance, instinct with sound principle.
                                               --Brougham.

\In"stinct\, n. [L. instinctus instigation, impulse,
fr. instinguere to instigate: cf. F. instinct. See
{Instinct}, a.]
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. (Zo["o]l.) 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. A natural aptitude or knack; a predilection; as, an
   instinct for order; to be modest by instinct.

\In*stinct"\, v. t.
To impress, as an animating power, or instinct. [Obs.]
--Bentley.