Instruct
/ɪnˈstrʌkt/noun
To teach someone how to do something or give directions or orders.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin *instruere*, which could mean to arrange, equip, or build up, so instruction was once about mentally “fitting someone out” with knowledge.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*streu-
“to spread out, strew, extend”
Latin
Latin
struere
“to pile up, arrange, build”
Latin
Latin
instruere
“to build in, arrange, equip, prepare, teach”
Old French
Old French
instruire
“to teach, inform, train”
Middle English
English
instructen
“to teach, direct, train”
Modern English
English
instruct
“to teach or give directions to”
Explore more surprising origins