What is the Latin word for instigate?

The usual Latin words for “instigate” are īnstīgō, Velleius. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“instigate” in Latin

īnstīgōto stimulate, set on, incite, rouse or urge Velleiusof or pertaining to the gens Velleia.

The English word instigate itself goes back to Latin īnstīgō, through īnstīgātus.

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

instigate

instigare (classical, but rare: te instigante, Cic.; Romanos in Hannibalem, Liv.; in arma, Velleius). Vid: To EXCITE; To INCITE.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for instigate?: The usual Latin words for “instigate” are īnstīgō, Velleius. 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.