Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Instance \In"stance\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Instanced}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Instancing}.]
   To mention as a case or example; to refer to; to cite; as, to
   instance a fact. --H. Spenser.

         I shall not instance an abstruse author. --Milton.

Instance \In"stance\, v. i.
   To give an example. [Obs.]

         This story doth not only instance in kingdoms, but in
         families too.                            --Jer. Taylor.

Instance \In"stance\, n. [F. instance, L. instantia, fr.
   instans. See {Instant}.]
   1. The act or quality of being instant or pressing; urgency;
      solicitation; application; suggestion; motion.

            Undertook at her instance to restore them. --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.

   2. That which is instant or urgent; motive. [Obs.]

            The instances that second marriage move Are base
            respects of thrift, but none of love. --Shak.

   3. Occasion; order of occurrence.

            These seem as if, in the time of Edward I., they
            were drawn up into the form of a law, in the first
            instance.                             --Sir M. Hale.

   4. That which offers itself or is offered as an illustrative
      case; something cited in proof or exemplification; a case
      occurring; an example.

            Most remarkable instances of suffering. --Atterbury.

   5. A token; a sign; a symptom or indication. --Shak.

   {Causes of instance}, those which proceed at the solicitation
      of some party. --Hallifax.

   {Court of first instance}, the court by which a case is first
      tried.

   {For instance}, by way of example or illustration.

   {Instance Court} (Law), the Court of Admiralty acting within
      its ordinary jurisdiction, as distinguished from its
      action as a prize court.

   Syn: Example; case. See {Example}.

Source : WordNet®

instance
     n 1: an occurrence of something; "it was a case of bad judgment";
          "another instance occurred yesterday"; "but there is
          always the famous example of the Smiths" [syn: {case}, {example}]
     2: an item of information that is representative of a type;
        "this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome";
        "there is an example on page 10" [syn: {example}, {illustration},
         {representative}]
     v : clarify by giving an example of [syn: {exemplify}, {illustrate}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

instance
     
         An individual {object} of a certain {class}.
        While a class is just the type definition, an actual usage of
        a class is called "instance".  Each instance of a class can
        have different values for its {instance variables}, i.e. its
        {state}.
     
        (1998-03-06)