instar (noun N) : perh. in and root sta-; cf. Gr. ἵστημι, στήλη, etc..
* A sketch, image, resemblance, likeness, kind, manner: parvum instar eorum, quae, etc.,Liv. 28, 17, 2.
* Ad instar, or simply instar.
* A form, figure, appearance: quantum instar in ipso!Verg. A. 6, 865: terra ad universi caeli complexum quasi puncti instar obtinet,has almost the appearance of, looks almost like a point,Cic. Tusc. 1, 17, 40.
* Worth, value: omnia vix minimi momenti instar habent,Cic. Off. 3, 3, 11: unus ille dies mihi immortalitatis instar fuit,was worth immortality to me,id. Pis. 22, 52: unus is innumeri militis instar habet,is as good as, equivalent to,Ov. H. 16, 368: Plato mihi unus instar est omnium,is to me worth them all,Cic. Brut. 51, 191: clientes appellari, mortis instar putant,is as bad as death to them,id. Off. 2, 20, 69.
* Instar, with gen., about: cohortes quaedam, quod instar legionis videretur,Caes. B. C. 3, 66; cf.: videretis vix duarum male plenarum legiuncularum instar in castris regis,Liv. 35, 49, 10: milites dati duarum instar legionum,id. 26, 28, 11: habet Tiro instar septuaginta (mearum epistularum),Cic. Att. 16, 5, 5: librorum octo,Varr. R. R. 1, 1, 10.

s. TLL