v.
Pronunciation: ' kän(t)-st ə - ˌ tüt, - ˌ tyüt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -tut · ed ; -tut · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin constitutus, past participle of constituere to set up, constitute, from com- + statuere to set ― more at STATUTE
Date: 15th century
1 : to appoint to an office, function, or dignity
2 : SET UP , ESTABLISH : as a : ENACT b : FOUND c (1) : to give due or lawful form to (2) : to legally process
3 : MAKE UP , FORM , COMPOSE <12 months constitute a year> <high school dropouts who constitute a major problem in large city slums ― J. B. Conant>