Deliberately stirring up or encouraging someone to do something, often something wrong or harmful.
From Latin 'instigare' (in- 'into' + stigare 'to prick or urge'). The root suggests poking or prodding someone into action, implying dishonest or troublemaking intent.
The word 'instigate' literally means to poke someone into action—like you're poking them to make them do something they shouldn't, which is why it almost always means causing trouble!
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