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Today’s Word

Part of Speech

noun, adjective

Definition

1. An essential part.
2. A person who authorizes another to act in his or her behalf, as a voter in a district represented by an elected official.
3. Serving to compose or make up a thing; component:.

History

This word was first used as a noun in 1622, as meaning to act as the agent of another. From the French constituant, from Middle French, from present participle of constituer to constitute, from Latin constituere. It was first used as an adjective in 1660, as meaning an essential part of a larger whole. From the Latin constituent-, constituens, present participle of constituere.

Synonyms

component, element, member

Antonyms

whole

Usage and Examples

Here are a couple of examples:

• The newly-elected mayor promised to help her elderly constituents.
• Senators were flooded with calls from their constituents to vote against the poorly worded legislation.