Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Constitution \Con`sti*tu"tion\, n. [F. constitution, L.
   constitute.]
   1. The act or process of constituting; the action of
      enacting, establishing, or appointing; enactment;
      establishment; formation.

   2. The state of being; that form of being, or structure and
      connection of parts, which constitutes and characterizes a
      system or body; natural condition; structure; texture;
      conformation.

            The physical constitution of the sun. --Sir J.
                                                  Herschel.

   3. The aggregate of all one's inherited physical qualities;
      the aggregate of the vital powers of an individual, with
      reference to ability to endure hardship, resist disease,
      etc.; as, a robust constitution.

            Our constitutions have never been enfeebled by the
            vices or luxuries of the old world.   --Story.

   4. The aggregate of mental qualities; temperament.

            He defended himself with . . . less passion than was
            expected from his constitution.       --Clarendon.

   5. The fundamental, organic law or principles of government
      of men, embodied in written documents, or implied in the
      institutions and usages of the country or society; also, a
      written instrument embodying such organic law, and laying
      down fundamental rules and principles for the conduct of
      affairs.

            Our constitution had begun to exist in times when
            statesmen were not much accustomed to frame exact
            definitions.                          --Macaulay.

   Note: In England the constitution is unwritten, and may be
         modified from time to time by act of Parliament. In the
         United States a constitution cannot ordinarily be
         modified, exept through such processes as the
         constitution itself ordains.

   6. An authoritative ordinance, regulation or enactment;
      especially, one made by a Roman emperor, or one affecting
      ecclesiastical doctrine or discipline; as, the
      constitutions of Justinian.

            The positive constitutions of our own churches.
                                                  --Hooker.

            A constitution of Valentinian addressed to Olybrius,
            then prefect of Rome, for the regulation of the
            conduct of advocates.                 --George Long.

   {Apostolic constitutions}. See under {Apostolic}.

Source : WordNet®

constitution
     n 1: law determining the fundamental political principles of a
          government [syn: {fundamental law}, {organic law}]
     2: the act of forming something; "the constitution of a PTA
        group last year"; "it was the establishment of his
        reputation"; "he still remembers the organization of the
        club" [syn: {establishment}, {formation}, {organization},
        {organisation}]
     3: the way in which someone or something is composed [syn: {composition},
         {makeup}]
     4: United States 44-gun frigate that was one of the first three
        naval ships built by the United States; it won brilliant
        victories over British frigates during the War of 1812 and
        is without doubt the most famous ship in the history of
        the United States Navy; it has been rebuilt and is
        anchored in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston [syn: {Old
        Ironsides}]