constitute

Constitute is a verb with several related meanings. It can mean to form or compose something from parts; to establish or create something by law or policy; or to be equivalent to or to make up the essential elements of a larger whole.

Origin and grammar: from Latin constituere “to set up, establish,” the word entered English in the 14th century. It is transitive, taking a direct object that names a whole formed by parts: for example, “Ten chapters constitute the first volume.” It can also mean “to amount to” in contexts such as “these actions constitute a breach of contract.”

Use and nuance: When the emphasis is on formation, constitute highlights the assembling of parts into a new whole. When used with law or policy, it can mean to establish a body, rule, or status, as in “to constitute a government” or “to constitute a charter.” The passive construction “be constituted by” is common when describing the parts that form something.

Relation to other terms: synonyms include comprise, make up, and form. Constitute often focuses on the act of forming a whole from components; comprise tends to name the whole first and its parts, while make up is more colloquial. In legal writing, to constitute an offense or crime is a standard expression.