Instruct, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Instructed; p. pr. & vb. n. Instructing.]
1. To put in order; to form; to prepare. [Obs.] They speak to the merits of a cause, after the proctor has prepared and instructed the same for a hearing. Ayliffe.
2. To form by communication of knowledge; to inform the mind of; to impart knowledge or information to; to enlighten; to teach; to discipline. Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth. Shak.
3. To furnish with directions; to advise; to direct; to command; as, the judge instructs the jury. She, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. Matt. xiv. 8. Take her in; instruct her what she has to do. Shak.
Syn. -- To teach; educate; inform; train; discipline; indoctrinate; direct; enjoin.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Instruct, a.
1. Arranged; furnished; provided. [Obs.] "He had neither ship instruct with oars, nor men." Chapman.
2. Instructed; taught; enlightened. [Obs.] Milton.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for instruct; he lists it under teach.
Where he writes about it:
To teach is simply to communicate knowledge; to instruct (originally, to build in or into, put in order) is to impart knowledge with special method and completeness; instruct has also an authoritative sense nearly equivalent to command. — from teach