Definition: constitute

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

constitute
     v 1: form or compose; "This money is my only income"; "The stone
          wall was the backdrop for the performance"; "These
          constitute my entire belonging"; "The children made up
          the chorus"; "This sum represents my entire income for a
          year"; "These few men comprise his entire army" [syn: represent,
           make up, comprise, be]
     2: charge with a task or function; "appoint someone president";
        "nominate a committee" [syn: appoint, name, nominate]
     3: to compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of
        the stage setting"; "The branches made a roof"; "This
        makes a fine introduction" [syn: form, make]
     4: set up or lay the groundwork for; "establish a new
        department" [syn: establish, found, plant, institute]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Constitute \Con"sti*tute\, n.
   An established law. [Obs.] --T. Preston.
Constitute \Con"sti*tute\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Constituted; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Constituting.] [L. constitutus, p. p. of
   constiture to constitute; con- + statuere to place, set, fr.
   status station, fr. stare to stand. See Stand.]
   1. To cause to stand; to establish; to enact.

            Laws appointed and constituted by lawful authority.
                                                  --Jer. Taylor.