What is the Latin word for constitute?

The usual Latin words for “constitute” are statuō, cōnstituō, dēsignō; also dīcō, īnstituō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“constitute” in Latin

statuōto put up (something); to stand (something) in an upright position; to establish, determine, fix (the form or character cōnstituōto place, put, locate, lay; to set up, establish, constitute, found; to build, erect, construct dēsignōto mark; to trace out; to outline, describe dīcōto say, talk, speak, utter, mention; to declare, state; to tell īnstituōto set up, establish, found, institute or arrange; to train, teach, instruct, educate (usually by a course of training);

The English word constitute itself goes back to Latin statuō, through cōnstitūtum.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

constitute

statuere: constituere: designare (to order). (the words are found in this connection and order), constituere et designare: dicere (say or indicate in general).

To appoint, constituere (establish, settle; set on a right footing): instituere (institute, appoint, ordain a thing or person). Vid: APPOINT.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for constitute?: The usual Latin words for “constitute” are statuō, cōnstituō, dēsignō; also dīcō, īnstituō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.