Lewis & Short

in-sto, stĭti, stātum (e. g. instaturum, Liv. 10, 36, 3: instaturos, Front. Strat. 2, 6, 10 al.), 1, v. n., to stand in or upon a thing (class.).

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen., constr. with dat., in and abl., or acc.
          1. (α) With dat.: jugis, Verg. A. 11, 529.
          2. (β) With in and abl.: saxo in globoso, Pac. ap. Auct. Her. 2, 23, 36 (Trag. Fragm. v. 367 Rib.): instans in medio triclinio, Suet. Tib. 72.
          3. (γ) Absol., to draw nigh, approach; to impend, threaten: quibus ego confido impendere fatum aliquod, et poenas jam diu debitas aut instare jam plane, aut certe jam appropinquare, Cic. Cat. 2, 5: instant apparatissimi magnificentissimique ludi, id. Pis. 27: cum illi iter instaret, id. Att. 13, 23: quidquid subiti et magni discriminis instat, Juv. 6, 520: ante factis omissis, illud quod instet, agi oportere, the subject in hand, Cic. Inv. 2, 11, 37.
            Of persons: cum legionibus instare Varum, Caes. B. C. 2, 43.
          4. (δ) With acc. (ante-class.): tantum eum instat exitii, Plaut. Poen. 4, 2, 96.
    2. B. In partic., to press upon, harass, molest, menace, threaten.
      With dat., acc., or absol.
          1. (α) With dat.: cedenti, Liv. 10, 36: vestigiis, id. 27, 12, 9: instantem regi cometen videre, Juv. 6, 407.
          2. (β) With acc.: si me instabunt (al. mi), Plaut. Curc. 3, 1, 6.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. To urge or press upon one, to insist; to pursue a thing (syn. urgeo): quamobrem urge, insta, perfice, Cic. Att. 13, 32, 1: accusatori, id. Font. 1: ille instat factum (esse), he insists upon the fact, Ter. And. 1, 1, 120.
      To follow up eagerly, pursue; with dat. or acc.
          1. (α) With dat.: instant operi regnisque futuris, Verg. A. 1, 504: talibus instans monitis (parens), Juv. 14, 210: non ignarus instandum famae, Tac. Agr. 18.
          2. (β) With acc., to urge forward, ply, transact with zeal or diligence: instant mercaturam, Nov. ap. Non. 212, 30 (Com. Rel. p. 223 Rib.): parte aliā Marti currumque, rotasque volucres Instabant, were hastening forward, working hard at, busily constructing, Verg. A. 8, 434: rectam viam, to go right, i. e. to be right, to hit the mark, Plaut. As. 1, 1, 40: unum instare de indutiis vehementissime contendere, Caes. B. C. 3, 17, 5; cf. Zumpt, Gram. § 385.
          3. (γ) Absol.: vox domini instantis, Juv. 14, 63.
    2. B. To demand earnestly, solicit, insist upon: satis est, quod instat de Milone, Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 2: quod profecto cum sua sponte, tum, te instante, faciet, at your instance, your solicitation, id. Att. 3, 15.
      With inf.: instat Scandilius poscere recuperatores, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 59, § 136.
      With ut or ne: tibi instat Hortensius, ut eas in consilium, Cic. Quint. 10: uxor acriter tua instat, ne mihi detur, Plaut. Cas. 2, 5, 33; cf.: nunc nosmet ipsi nobis instemus, ut, etc., Auct. Her. 4, 56, 69.
      Impers.: profecto, si instetur, suo milite vinci Romam posse, Liv. 2, 44.
      Hence, instans, antis, P. a.
    1. A. (Standing by, being near, i. e.) Present.
      1. 1. In gen.: quae venientia metuuntur, eadem efficiunt aegritudinem instantia, Cic. Tusc. 4, 6, 11: ex controversia futuri, raro etiam ex instantis aut facti, id. de Or. 2, 25, 105: tempus, Auct. Her. 2, 5, 8: bellum, Cic. Phil. 11, 10, 24.
      2. 2. In partic., gram. t. t.: tempus, i.q. praesens tempus, the present tense, the present, Quint. 5, 10, 42; Charis. p. 147 P. et saep.
    2. B. Pressing, urgent, importunate (post-Aug.): periculum, Nep. Paus. 3, 5: species terribilior jam et instantior, Tac. H. 4, 83: gestus acer atque instans, Quint. 11, 3, 92 sq.; cf.: argumentatio acrior et instantior, id. ib. § 164: admonitio instantior, Gell. 13, 24, 19.
      Adv.: instanter, vehemently, earnestly, pressingly: intente instanterque pronuntiare, Plin. Ep. 5, 19, 6: petere, id. ib. 5, 7, 22: plura acriter et instanter incipere, Quint. 9, 3, 30: dicere, id. 9, 4, 126.
      Comp.: instantius concurrere, to fight more vehemently, Tac. A. 6, 35.
      Sup.: instantissime desiderare, Gell. 4, 18.