Lewis & Short

instar, n. indecl. [perh. in and root sta-; cf. Gr. ἵστημι, στήλη, etc.].

  1. I. A sketch, image, resemblance, likeness, kind, manner: parvum instar eorum, quae, etc., Liv. 28, 17, 2.
    1. B. Ad instar, or simply instar.
      1. 1. According to the likeness of, after the fashion of, like.
          1. (α) Ad instar, with gen. (post-class.): vallis continuis montibus ad instar castrorum clauditur, Just. 36, 3: ad instar proprietatis, non ad instar possessionis, Dig. 6, 2, 7.
          2. (β) Instar, with gen. (class.): Erana, quae fuit non vici instar, sed urbis, Cic. Fam. 15, 4, 8: instar muri, Caes. B. G. 2, 17: instar montis equus, Verg. A. 2, 15: nomina ea partium urbis et instal urbium sunt, Liv. 25, 25, 5 Weissenb.
      2. 2. Instar, with gen., about: cohortes quaedam, quod instar legionis videretur, Caes. B. C. 3, 66; cf.: videretis vix duarum male plenarum legiuncularum instar in castris regis, Liv. 35, 49, 10: milites dati duarum instar legionum, id. 26, 28, 11: habet Tiro instar septuaginta (mearum epistularum), Cic. Att. 16, 5, 5: librorum octo, Varr. R. R. 1, 1, 10.
  2. II. A form, figure, appearance: quantum instar in ipso! Verg. A. 6, 865: terra ad universi caeli complexum quasi puncti instar obtinet, has almost the appearance of, looks almost like a point, Cic. Tusc. 1, 17, 40.
  3. III. Worth, value: omnia vix minimi momenti instar habent, Cic. Off. 3, 3, 11: unus ille dies mihi immortalitatis instar fuit, was worth immortality to me, id. Pis. 22, 52: unus is innumeri militis instar habet, is as good as, equivalent to, Ov. H. 16, 368: Plato mihi unus instar est omnium, is to me worth them all, Cic. Brut. 51, 191: clientes appellari, mortis instar putant, is as bad as death to them, id. Off. 2, 20, 69.