Main Entry: con·sti·tute

Pronunciation: \ˈkän(t)-stə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): con·sti·tut·ed; con·sti·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>