Instance, n.
Etymology: [F. instance, L. instantia, fr. instans. See Instant.]
1. The act or quality of being instant or pressing; urgency; solicitation; application; suggestion; motion. Undertook at her instance to restore them. Sir W. Scott.
2. That which is instant or urgent; motive. [Obs.] The instances that second marriage move Are base respects of thrift, but none of love. Shak.
3. Occasion; order of occurrence. These seem as if, in the time of Edward I., they were drawn up into the form of a law, in the first instance. Sir M. Hale.
4. That which offers itself or is offered as an illustrative case; something cited in proof or exemplification; a case occurring; an example. Most remarkable instances of suffering. Atterbury.
2 more senses
5. A token; a sign; a symptom or indication. Shak. Causes of instance, those which proceed at the solicitation of some party. Hallifax. -- Court of first instance, the court by which a case is first tried. -- For instance, by way of example or illustration. -- Instance Court (Law), the Court of Admiralty acting within its ordinary jurisdiction, as distinguished from its action as a prize court.
Syn. -- Example; case. See Example.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Instance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Instanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Instancing.]
To mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite; as, to instance a fact. H. Spenser. I shall not instance an abstruse author. Milton.
Instance, v. i.
To give an example. [Obs.] This story doth not only instance in kingdoms, but in families too. Jer. Taylor.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for instance; he lists it under precedent, sample.
Where he writes about it:
A precedent is an authoritative case, example, or instance. — from precedent
The communism of the early Christians in Jerusalem is a wonderful example or instance of Christian liberality, but not a precedent for the universal church through all time. — from precedent
An instance is a sample or specimen of action. — from sample