instigator
UK /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪtə/ · US /ˈɪnstəˌɡeɪtɚ/ noun
Forms instigators instigatour
- noun A person who intentionally instigates, incites, or starts something, especially one that creates trouble.
Synonyms
inciter troublemaker agitator bad boy bad news bear beggar bhoy blackguard booger boot boy bovver boy brat brawler breedbate buffoon bugger bully charva cutup provoker instigant firebrand initiator
Etymology
From Latin īnstīgātor (“stimulator”), from īnstīgāre (present infinitive of īnstīgō (“to incite, set on, stimulate, rouse or urge”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to be sharp, to stab; to puncture; to goad”)) + -or (from -ō (suffix forming masculine agent nouns), from Proto-Indo-European *-h₃onh₂- (suffix forming nouns denoting authority or burden)); cognate with French instigateur. By surface analysis, instigate + -or.
Webster’s 1913
- noun One who instigates or incites. Burke.
Etymology [L.: cf. F. instigateur.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “instigator”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details