Instance
/ˈɪn.stəns/noun
An example or a specific occurrence of something.
Did you know?Its deepest root is the Latin stare, “to stand,” the same ancient source behind words like stable and status, so an “instance” is literally something that stands before you.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*stā-
“to stand”
Latin
Latin
instāre
“to stand upon, press on, urge, be imminent”
Late Latin
Latin
instantia
“pressing urgency, presence, immediacy”
Old French
Old French
instance
“urgency, entreaty, example”
Middle English
English
instance
“urgent request, persuasion; example”
Modern English
English
instance
“an example or a particular case”