■ noun an example or single occurrence of something.
↘a particular case.
■ verb cite as an example.
Phrases
at first ~ Law at the first court hearing concerning a case.
at the ~ of formal at the request or instigation of.
for ~ as an example.
in the first (or second etc.) ~ in the first (or second etc.) stage of a proceeding.
Origin
ME (orig. 'urgent entreaty', later 'example to the contrary'): via OFr. from L. instantia 'presence, urgency', from instare 'be present, press upon', from in- 'upon' + stare 'to stand'.