(v. n.P. a.) : in-sto, stĭti, stātum (e. g. instaturum, Liv. 10, 36, 3:
* Instaturos,Front. Strat. 2, 6, 10 al.), 1, v. n., to stand in or upon a thing (class.).
* Lit.
* In gen., constr. with dat., in and abl., or acc.
* Trop.
* In partic., to press upon, harass, molest, menace, threaten.—With dat., acc., or absol.
* Absol., to draw nigh, approach; to impend, threaten: quibus ego confido impendere fatum aliquod, et poenas jam diu debitas aut instare jam plane, aut certe jam appropinquare,Cic. Cat. 2, 5: instant apparatissimi magnificentissimique ludi,id. Pis. 27: cum illi iter instaret,id. Att. 13, 23: quidquid subiti et magni discriminis instat,Juv. 6, 520: ante factis omissis, illud quod instet, agi oportere,the subject in hand,Cic. Inv. 2, 11, 37. — Of persons: cum legionibus instare Varum,Caes. B. C. 2, 43.
* With acc. (ante-class.): tantum eum instat exitii,Plaut. Poen. 4, 2, 96.
* With dat.: cedenti,Liv. 10, 36: vestigiis,id. 27, 12, 9: instantem regi cometen videre,Juv. 6, 407.
* With acc.: si me instabunt (al. mi),Plaut. Curc. 3, 1, 6.
* To urge or press upon one, to insist; to pursue a thing (syn. urgeo): quamobrem urge, insta, perfice,Cic. Att. 13, 32, 1: accusatori,id. Font. 1: ille instat factum (esse),he insists upon the fact,Ter. And. 1, 1, 120.—To follow up eagerly, pursue; with dat. or acc.
* With dat.: instant operi regnisque futuris,Verg. A. 1, 504: talibus instans monitis (parens),Juv. 14, 210: non ignarus instandum famae,Tac. Agr. 18.
* To demand earnestly, solicit, insist upon: satis est, quod instat de Milone,Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 2: quod profecto cum sua sponte, tum, te instante, faciet,at your instance, your solicitation,id. Att. 3, 15.— With inf.: instat Scandilius poscere recuperatores,Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 59, § 136.—With ut or ne: tibi instat Hortensius, ut eas in consilium,Cic. Quint. 10: uxor acriter tua instat, ne mihi detur,Plaut. Cas. 2, 5, 33; cf.: nunc nosmet ipsi nobis instemus, ut, etc.,Auct. Her. 4, 56, 69.—Impers.: profecto, si instetur, suo milite vinci Romam posse,Liv. 2, 44.—Hence, instans, antis, P. a.
* (Standing by, being near, i. e.) Present.
* In gen.: quae venientia metuuntur, eadem efficiunt aegritudinem instantia,Cic. Tusc. 4, 6, 11: ex controversia futuri, raro etiam ex instantis aut facti,id. de Or. 2, 25, 105: tempus,Auct. Her. 2, 5, 8: bellum,Cic. Phil. 11, 10, 24.
* Pressing, urgent, importunate (post-Aug.): periculum,Nep. Paus. 3, 5: species terribilior jam et instantior,Tac. H. 4, 83: gestus acer atque instans,Quint. 11, 3, 92 sq.; cf.: argumentatio acrior et instantior,id. ib. § 164: admonitio instantior,Gell. 13, 24, 19.—Adv.: instanter, vehemently, earnestly, pressingly: intente instanterque pronuntiare,Plin. Ep. 5, 19, 6: petere,id. ib. 5, 7, 22: plura acriter et instanter incipere,Quint. 9, 3, 30: dicere,id. 9, 4, 126.— Comp.: instantius concurrere,to fight more vehemently,Tac. A. 6, 35. — Sup.: instantissime desiderare,Gell. 4, 18.

s. TLL