Other forms: constituted, constitutes, constituting
To constitute is to be the parts that make up a whole. Constitute a majority, constitute an offence, what constitutes evidence.
In law it is the standard verb for whether something meets a definition: does this constitute harassment. It also means to form or establish a body — a properly constituted committee is one set up according to the rules. Note constitution, which means both a body's founding rules and a person's physical make-up; and that the Latin means to set up together.
1verbconstituteTo be the parts that make up a whole.
“Women constitute more than half of the university's students.”
2verbmeetTo meet the definition of something.
“Sharing someone's photo without permission may constitute a breach of privacy.”
constitute is a making up.
Latin constituere is con plus statuere, to set up, from stare, to stand. Statute, institute and stature come from the same standing.
Latin
cōnstitūtum
Middle English
constituten
English, today
constitute
Built from
From Middle English constituten, from Latin cōnstitūtum, neuter of cōnstitūtus, past participle of Latin cōnstituō (“to put in place; set up; establish”), from con- (“with”) + statuō (“to put up; establish”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA