Gradually put an idea, feeling, or value into someone's mind over time, like dripping liquid slowly into a container.
From Latin 'instillare': 'in-' (into) + 'stilla' (a drop). Originally used literally for pouring drops of liquid, it became metaphorical in the 1500s to describe gradually teaching or imparting values.
The image of 'dropping' an idea into someone's mind is perfect—this is exactly how learning works for deep beliefs! Parents instill values through repeated small moments, not lectures, which is why the word stuck around as the perfect metaphor.
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