1 definition by ESP master
1. An inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli: the spawning instinct in salmon; altruistic instincts in social animals.
2. A powerful motivation or impulse.
3. An innate capability or aptitude: an instinct for tact and diplomacy.
1. Deeply filled or imbued: words instinct with love.
2. Obsolete. Impelled from within.
instinct
• Natural inward impulse; unconscious, involuntary, or unreasoning prompting to any mode of action, whether bodily, or mental, without a distinct apprehension of the end or object to be accomplished.
• An instinct is a propensity prior to experience, and independent of instructions. --Paley.
• An instinct is a blind tendency to some mode of action, independent of any consideration, on the part of the agent, of the end to which the action leads. --Whately.
An instinct is an agent which performs blindly and ignorantly a work of intelligence and knowledge. --Sir W. Hamilton.
• By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing dangers. --Shak.
• The natural, unreasoning, impulse by which an animal is guided to the performance of any action, without of improvement in the method.
• The resemblance between what originally was a habit, and an instinct becomes so close as not to be distinguished. --Darwin.
• A natural aptitude or knack; a predilection; as, an instinct for order; to be modest by instinct.
2. A powerful motivation or impulse.
3. An innate capability or aptitude: an instinct for tact and diplomacy.
1. Deeply filled or imbued: words instinct with love.
2. Obsolete. Impelled from within.
instinct
• Natural inward impulse; unconscious, involuntary, or unreasoning prompting to any mode of action, whether bodily, or mental, without a distinct apprehension of the end or object to be accomplished.
• An instinct is a propensity prior to experience, and independent of instructions. --Paley.
• An instinct is a blind tendency to some mode of action, independent of any consideration, on the part of the agent, of the end to which the action leads. --Whately.
An instinct is an agent which performs blindly and ignorantly a work of intelligence and knowledge. --Sir W. Hamilton.
• By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing dangers. --Shak.
• The natural, unreasoning, impulse by which an animal is guided to the performance of any action, without of improvement in the method.
• The resemblance between what originally was a habit, and an instinct becomes so close as not to be distinguished. --Darwin.
• A natural aptitude or knack; a predilection; as, an instinct for order; to be modest by instinct.
it is the survival instinct of the body to react in certain ways when faced with certain situations.... eg. sexual drive to reproduce and ensure the continued survival of the species.
by ESP master March 31, 2004